2004 Volume 45 Issue 2 Pages 59-63
The advances made in optical transmission and measurement technologies in recent years have expedited the development of optical networks and current sensors. This paper outlines the characteristics and special features of optical fiber sensors, describes the current measuring principles of optical current transformers (CTs) that utilize the Faraday (magneto-optic) effect, and introduces examples of their railway electric power system applications—the fault detection of Shinkansen changeover switches and the measurement of DC currents.