Optical Phase Refractometer Based on Post-Processed Interferometric Tip Sensors

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Marta S Ferreira (Author) Other; Joerg Bierlich (Author) Other; Sonja Unger (Author) Other; Kay Schuster (Author) Other; Jose L Santos (Author) FCUP; Orlando Frazao (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Lightwave Technology

Vol. 32

Pages: 3002-3007

ISSN: 0733-8724

Publisher: Optical Society of America

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 4 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Electrical engineering, Electronic engineering, Information engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-R1B

DOI: 10.1109/jlt.2014.2335272

Abstract (EN): An interferometric tip sensor based on the post-process of a special design double-cladding optical fiber is proposed. Due to the sensing head design, it is sensitive to environmental variations. In order to analyze this effect, the sensing head is subjected to temperature variations both in liquid and gas (at 1 atm). Comparing the two signals, it is possible to discriminate the contribution of the liquid refractive index variation with temperature. Not only the amplitude of the signal varies with the surrounding medium, but also the phase of the interferometric pattern alters. This is due to the presence of a thin diaphragm at the end face of the fiber structure turning the sensing head in a three wave interferometric device. An indirect measurement of the water refractive index is performed, by subjecting the sensing head to temperature variations in air and water. Even though the sensitivities obtained are lower than the ones reported in the literature, it should be highlighted that there is no core exposition of the fiber to the external medium. The sensor is easy to fabricate, robust, and reproducible.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific