Optimization of the fiber/metallic glass bond in fiber-optic magnetic sensors

We present the results of measurements of the response of magnetostriction-based fiber-optic magnetometers to various methods of bonding the optical fiber to the sensing element, in this case a metallic glass ribbon. The measurements were performed using combined Michelson/Mach-Zehnder interferometers which allowed us to obtain separately and simultaneously the strain in the ribbon and the strain in the fiber. We have observed serious degradation in the magnetostriction of metallic glass ribbons bonded to fibers due to loading effects of the bonding adhesive. We present a method for reducing these effects and optimizing the sensor response.