This work highlights slab coupled optical sensors (SCOS) and their ability to measure high voltages. Although other high voltage measurement techniques exist, most of these techniques are electrical devices and are therefore more susceptible to stray ground currents and other electromagnetic interferences (EMI), which may cause signal distortion. Optical sensors are less susceptible to such interferences and these sensors, such as the Pockels cell, have been used in measuring high voltage. SCOS offer an alternative method of measuring high voltage optically. Consisting of an optical fiber and an electro-optic slab waveguide, SCOS have the advantage of being very small in size (0.2 mm x 0.3 mm cross-section), simpler composition, and potentially less coupling losses. Issues associated with high voltage measurements are addressed such as unwanted corona, arcing, and EMI. Solutions are also explored which include insolating materials, electrode geometries, Faraday cages, and using optical sensors such as SCOS. Although the SCOS has been traditionally used to measure electric field, the SCOS is able to measure high voltage through the use of an electrode structure. The SCOS' ability to measure high voltage is showcase through the construction and output measurements of several high voltage systems: an ignition coil-based circuit, a dual ignition coil circuit, a Marx generator, and a 200 kV generator used in a capacitor discharge configuration. These measurements show the SCOS' ability to measure at least 111 kV capacitor discharges with 6.6 ns rise times and other various high voltage waveforms.

This thesis discusses the application of Slab Coupled Optical Fiber Sensors (SCOS) in a railgun. The specific goal of these sensors is to create an electric field profile at a specific point in the gun as the armature passes. The thesis explores the theory that powers the railgun as well as the principles of the SCOS sensors. It also elaborates on the various noise sources found throughout the detection system and concludes with a summary of the various field tests that were performed throughout this project. There are many benefits to using a railgun over traditional weapons in the field. These benefits not only include both safety and cost, but also greater overall defense capabilities. Unfortunately, the velocity skin effect (VSE) causes the current railgun designs to have limited life span through wear on the rails. In order to develop superior railguns and railgun armatures, the accurate detection of the VSE through measuring the electric field is of great interest. We used a SCOS, a small directionally precise dielectric sensor, as a small sensing area is required to be able to measure the electric fields inside of the rail gun. The actual usage of the SCOS within the railgun produced an additional set of problems that are not commonly encountered in the lab. The chief amongst these was noise from strain, RF pickup, and phase noise. This thesis also reports various methods used to reduce each of these noise sources.