Abstract

Nanoferrofluid is emerging as promising nanomaterials for the critical element of magneto-optical fiber devices. Herein, we demonstrate the mechanism of anisotropic nanochain-clusters formation and motion of nanoferrofluid around an optical fiber with the variation of magnetic field intensity and its direction. Based on anisotropic distribution of nanochain-clusters, we design a new nanoferrofluid-based vector magnetometer with simultaneous measurement of magnetic field intensity and direction. The sensing mechanism is based on the tunable ERI modulation of asymmetric cladding modes in fiber, modulated by magnetic field dependent nanochain- clusters. The all-fiber vector magnetometer with direction detection error of ±1.5°, and intensity sensitivity of 222.0pm/mT was fabricated and investigated.

© 2017 Optical Society of America