Sensor for detecting a quench in a superconductor using an optical coupling

This patent describes a sensor for detecting a quench in a superconducting coil. It comprises a readout coil located in a magnetic field produced by the superconducting coil that will move in response to a current flow between two potential leads connected to voltage taps on the superconducting coil caused by the presence of a quench in the superconducting coil; at least one light source; at least one light sensor aligned with the light source; an optical encoder integrally attached to the readout and capable of interrupting light emitted by the light source and impinging on the light sensor; a means of biasing the readout coil to return it to an original position when a quench is not present in the superconducting coil; and a means of remotely decoding the transmitted and interrupted light received by the light sensor to indicate the presence of a quench in the superconducting coil