Magneto-optical behavior of microstructure spun fibers

The simple design of a microstructured spun fiber with air channels has been developed. For the first time a magneto-optical response of the microstructured spun fiber with high built-in linear birefringence has been experimentally studied. Most valued magneto-optical properties of this fiber to be discovered are high sensitivity resistance at bent deformations and sensitivity value is nearly to a theoretical value. It is showed that such microstructured fiber accumulates effectively Faraday phase shift in magnetic field even when the fiber is coiled into a loop of a very small diameter. For example, a fiber coil of diameter 5 mm with 100 turns has a magneto-optical sensitivity of about 70% of “ideal” value and well agrees with model calculations. Results are of a great significance for a fiber-optic current sensor.