Automatic fringe analysis of the induced anisotropy of bent optical fibres

A new theoretical model considering the refraction of the incident light beam by the fibre is suggested to determine the refractive index profile of bent optical fibres. This new model (slabs model) considering the cross section of the bent optical fibre consists of large number of slabs. The slabs model bases on the refraction of the incident beam by the fibre. The refractive index profile of the optical fibre cladding before bending obtained using the automated Fizeau interferometer with the aid of suggested model is compared with other models such as, the homogenous model and the multilayer model to verify the ability of this slab model. The refractive index profile of the bent optical fibre cladding is investigated using this suggested model. In addition, the new model is used to obtain the induced birefringence and the guiding parameters. The bending radius is recommended to be greater than 7.1 mm for the used optical fibre. The consideration of the refraction increases the accuracy of the results.     

Microbend fiber optic detection of continuously varying refractive index of chlorinated water

In this paper we report a simple microbend fiber optic sensor using a plastic fiber, LED and photodetector assembly for sensing minute variation of refractive index of chlorinated water. Chlorinated water has slightly higher refractive index and gradual release of chlorine from bleaching powder treated water causes a temporal decrease in refractive index of the solution. The evaporation of chlorine from water and the change in refractive index is found to follow a first order exponential decay function of time. Introducing microbends in an optical fiber is easier and less complex than etching of fiber cladding for traditional optical fiber sensors.     

Determination of GR-IN optical fibre parameters from transverse interferograms considering the refraction of the incident ray by the fibre

The core–cladding refractive index difference Δn and the index gradient profile parameter of the graded index (GR-IN) optical fibre has been determined. The curve representing the real path, in the core region, due to refraction of the beam and the change in the exit wavefront are considered. Multiple-beam Fizeau fringes and two-beam interference Pluta polarizing microscope, are used for this investigation. A new method, based on a derived mathematical expression, is used with a prepared computer program to estimate the fringe shift inside GR-IN of the fibre core. The estimated and experimental values of the fringe shift, along the core radius, are used to obtain the refractive index profile of the optical fibre. A comparison between the new method and a previous model considering the refraction has been shown. Microinterferograms are given for illustrations.     

Optical humidity-sensitive mechanism based on refractive index variation

A novel composite model is put forward for humidity-sensitive material based on Maxwell-Garnett and effective medium theory. The analytical expression of the relation between effective refractive index and relative humidity is shown with different absorption factors and porosities. The larger the absorption factor is, the higher the refractive index is. The refractive index of humidity-sensitive SiO2 film decreases with the increase of ceramic material porosity. The sensitivity of optical humidity sensor can reach the magnitude of 10-3. In comparison with the experimental humidity-sensing curve by the method of p-polarized reflectance and the analysis of mechanism, theoretical simulation is in agreement with experimental results. Therefore, this composite model is proved to be reasonable which lays new theoretical foundation in further research on optical humidity sensor.     

常压百级洁净度环境中SiO2薄膜稳定性

在常压百级洁净度环境下,采用三种不同折射率的SiO₂溶胶在熔石英基底上涂制四种不同薄膜,利用光学理论计算模拟了三种胶体涂制的膜层稳定性,通过实验考查了膜层光学指标随时间的变化规律。SiO₂薄膜能够显著提升光学元件透射率,但由于膜层表面的大量羟基及其多孔结构,SiO₂薄膜易吸附周围环境中的有机污染物及水分填充膜层孔隙,从而导致膜层折射率发生变化,影响膜层透射率、反射率等光学性能。实验结果发现,三种溶胶凝胶化学膜在常压百级环境中的有效期为80 d(绝对变化率小于0.1%),且三种胶体涂制的膜层稳定性由高到低依次为折射率1.19, 1.15, 1.25的膜层。     

螺旋形塑料光纤表面等离子体共振折射率传感器

研究了基于波长调制的螺旋形塑料光纤(plastic optical fiber, POF)表面等离子体共振(surface plasmon resonance, SPR)折射率传感器。采用机械热压和扭曲法将塑料光纤制备成螺旋形,在螺旋形POF上通过磁控溅射蒸镀一定厚度(约50 nm)的金属薄膜来激励SPR效应,从而形成螺旋形POF-SPR传感器。通过对螺旋形POF-SPR传感器的结构进行修饰,研究不同结构参数对折射率传感特性的影响。实验结果表明:由厚度为500μm扁平形POF扭制、螺纹数为4的螺旋形POF-SPR传感器具有较好的线性度和折射率传感特性,在折射率为1.335～1.400范围内测得的灵敏度为1 262 nm/RIU。该传感器具有成本较低、制备简单、结构稳定等优点。     

A Fiber Optic Wavelength Modulation Sensor Based on Tantalum Pentoxide Coatings for Absolute Temperature Measurements

A fiber optic low-coherence sensor based on the spectral shift of tantalum pentoxide thin films for absolute temperature sensing up to 650°C is described. A tantalum pentoxide single layer was deposited directly onto the cleaved end-face of a single mode optical fibre and was illuminated with an super luminescence diode (SLD) source through a directional coupler. Interference fringes of the film on reflection were obtained within the optical bandwidth of the SLD using an optical spectrum analyser. The spectral shift versus temperature rise showed no turning points and the output was unambiguous, linear, monotonic and gave about 0.016 nm wavelength shift in the spectrum per°C. A semi-empirical calibration procedure based on the refractive index (n) and thickness (l) of the tantalum pentoxide film for absolute thermometric measurements is described.     

Unique mode properties of optical metacavities

Unusual optical properties of a cavity that contains a layered structure with an alternating refractive index are considered. The layers with the negative refraction and the negative phase velocity provide for drastic changes to the properties of the longitudinal and transverse modes. The transverse-mode structure depends on the effective diffraction length whereas the spectrum of longitudinal modes is determined by the effective optical length of the cavity. The effective lengths can be positive, negative, or zero. In the last case, the transverse distribution of the amplitude can be arbitrary. The conditions for the stability of the metacavity are derived. It is demonstrated that an unstable empty cavity becomes stable when a metamaterial is introduced inside it.     

基于迈克尔逊干涉的光纤弯曲传感器

设计并研制了一种新型的基于迈克尔逊干涉的光纤弯曲传感器.该光纤弯曲传感器由两根光纤组成的光纤带固定于弹性弯曲结构上来产生迈克尔逊干涉信号,用光纤折射率匹配液填充微型腔,并施加音频振荡信号对相位干涉信号实现低频调制.采用相位生成载波技术对相位干涉信号进行调制和解调,实现了对曲率变化高精确度的检测.实验测试了该光纤弯曲传感器的相位干涉信号与光纤带弯曲曲率的关系,并与理论分析对比.结果表明该光纤弯曲传感器具有43.96 rad/m－1的灵敏度及0.004 m－1的高分辨率.     

内置调制层型光纤表面等离子体波共振传感器研究

研究了一种基于内置调制层结构的光纤表面等离子体波共振(SPR)传感器。通过在金膜与纤芯的内侧增覆具有不同厚度和属性的光学透明薄膜作为内调制层,构成了性能独特的光电复合薄膜,起到调节倏逝波矢量和金膜表面等离子体振荡波矢量的双重作用,进而控制共振效应,为调节灵敏度提供依据。采用时域有限差分方法对内置调制层结构光纤SPR共振激励模型属性进行数值仿真。在此基础上,研制了用于液体折射率测量的内置调制层型光纤SPR传感探针。实验结果表明,该传感器在1.335～1.392折射率范围内,随着待测液体折射率的增大,SPR共振光谱向长波方向偏移,且灵敏度达到2263.1nm/RIU,与基于纤芯-金膜-环境介质三层结构的常规光纤SPR传感器相比提高一倍,能够更好地满足环境折射率检测的需求。     

Humidity sensor based on localized surface plasmon resonance of multilayer thin films of gold nanoparticles linked with myoglobin

Layer-by-layer self-assembled multilayer thin films of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) linked with myoglobin (Mb) show substantial sensitivity to humidity at room temperature according to measurements of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption that relies on the interparticle interaction present in the film. The sensor response is reversible, with response and recovery times as low as 5 s. The sensing mechanism is as follows: as the ambient humidity changes, Mb molecules change their size, making the GNP-to-GNP spacing and thereby the interparticle interaction change; the change in the interparticle interaction causes a change in the LSPR absorption of the multilayer thin film. We found that the LSPR band of the multilayer thin film was almost insensitive to both the surrounding refractive index and the adlayer thickness, rendering the multilayer-film-based humidity sensor highly immune to ambient disturbances.     

Numerical ray tracing through a modified cladding fiber optic segment sensors

By using 3-D geometric optics, the effect of a modified cladding on the transmission of light through optical fiber is investigated. Analysis of the light transmission of the optical fiber as function of the modified cladding refraction index and length are presented for various input illumination focused and compared with 3-D ray theory. Applications to chemical sensors are also discussed.The intensity of light signal transmitted through an optical fiber, which its cladding over a finite length is removed, is used as a sensor of refractive of liquids, in which the fiber is immersed. The transmitted light intensity is measured as a function of liquid refractive index for different lengths of the unclad section of the fiber and at each unclad length its sensitivity to change in refractive index of liquid is presented.     

Theoretical analysis of optical properties of dielectric coatings dependence on substrate subsurface defects

A model for refractive index of stratified dielectric substrate was put forward according to theories of inhomogeneous coatings. The substrate was divided into surface layer, subsurface layer and bulk layer along the normal direction of its surface. Both the surface layer (separated into N₁ sublayers of uniform thickness) and subsurface layer (separated into N₂ sublayers of uniform thickness), whose refractive indices have different statistical distributions, are equivalent to inhomogeneous coatings, respectively. And theoretical deduction was carried out by employing characteristic matrix method of optical coatings. An example of mathematical calculation for optical properties of dielectric coatings had been presented. The computing results indicate that substrate subsurface defects can bring about additional bulk scattering and change propagation characteristic in thin film and substrate. Therefore, reflectance, reflective phase shift and phase difference of an assembly of coatings and substrate deviate from ideal conditions. The model will provide some beneficial theory directions for improving optical properties of dielectric coatings via substrate surface modification.     

侧边抛磨的U型金溅射塑料光纤等离子体共振传感器

为了测量溶液折射率变化，对塑料光纤纤芯表面的纤芯-金层-液体的3层膜结构进行研究，制作了一种使用U型结构并结合侧边抛磨方法的表面等离子体共振传感器。将截取的一段塑料光纤弯曲成为U型，并在烘箱中通过较高温度使这段光纤的曲率固定，对弯曲部分的外表面进行抛光，暴露该位置塑料光纤芯层并在其上溅射金纳米薄膜层，将制备好的传感器浸入不同折射率的液体中，使用光谱分析仪观察光谱的移动。实验结果表明:当塑料光纤SPR传感器测量折射率变化范围在1.333~1.406的液体时，可以通过光谱观察到随着液体折射率的增大，等离子体共振吸收峰位置也不断地向波长增大的方向移动，并且二者之间存在线性关系，其灵敏度为7.5×10-4 RIU/nm。该传感器探头具有灵敏度高、小型化、易制备、低成本的特点。     

Non-intrusive refractometer sensor

An experimental realization of a simple non-intrusive refractometer sensor is demonstrated in this communication. The working principle of the sensor is based on intensity modulation of the back-reflected light when output light from an optical fibre end focusses onto air-medium interface. The change in the refractive index of the medium affects the reflectance of the incident light signal and thus modulates the back-reflected signal. Refractive index variation as small as 0.002 RIU can be measured using the present technique. The advantages of the technique are its simplicity, cost efficiency and usefulness in monitoring refractive indices of acidic solutions.     

Optical sensing by silicon slot-based directional couplers

A theoretical investigation of an optical liquid sensor, based on asymmetric directional coupler employing slot optical waveguides, is carried out. The sensing principle is based on the shift in the waveguide transmitted spectrum induced by analyte refractive index change. Silicon-on-insulator technology has been assumed in sensor design, and sensor modelling is carried out by using the coupled modes theory and the finite element method. The influence of geometrical parameters on the sensor characteristics has been investigated. A minimum detectable refractive index change of the order of 10^?6 can be theoretically predicted.     

折射率调制型光纤传感器在溶液浓度测量中的应用

本文详细报道了用折射率调制型光纤传感器测量溶液浓度的原理及实验装置。为了消除光源光强的不稳定性对测量精度提高的影响,我们提出用光学双稳态装置稳定光源的输出功率并将它用于实际测量中,实验结果表明:本方法用于测量溶液的浓度在灵敏度、精度和稳定度方面都有较大的提高,并且可用于在线监测。     

Fiber-optic humidity sensor based on an air-gap long period fiber grating

In this paper, we propose a novel high-sensitivity fiber-optic humidity sensor based on a calcium chloride thin film to be coated on an air-gap long-period grating fabricated (AG-LPG) by combining the fiber side-polishing and fiber etching methods. When the surrounding refractive index of the air-gap long-period grating is changed by a change in humidity, the grating resonant wavelength is considered varied. Experimental results indicate that humidity can be detected by this sensing mechanism and has a high sensitivity of about 1.36 nm/1%RH.     

光纤法布里-珀罗复合结构折射率传感器的灵敏度分析

理论上推导了光纤法布里-珀罗复合结构传感器的反射光谱条纹对比度与外界介质折射率的关系,并分析了实验参数对传感器灵敏度的影响.利用化学腐蚀渐变折射率多模光纤制作了光纤法布里-珀罗复合结构折射率传感器,空气中的条纹对比度可达30 dB以上,折射率测量的灵敏度达45 dB/RIU(refraction index unit,简RIU)以上.实验结果与理论符合很好.通过理论和实验分析,提出了进一步提高传感器灵敏度的方法. 关键词： 光纤传感器 法布里-珀罗复合结构 折射率测量 灵敏度     

High-Sensitivity Sensor Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance Enhanced Lateral Optical Beam Displacements

We present a new optical sensor based on surface plasmon resonance （SPIt） enhanced lateral optical beam displacements. Compared with the traditional SPIt methods, the new method provides higher sensitivity to the sensor system. Theoretical simulations show that the refractive index （RI） detection sensitivity of the SPR sensor based on the displacement measurement has a strong dependence on the thickness of the metal film. When the optimal thickness of the metal film is selected, the RI resolutlon of the SPIt sensor is predicted to be 2.2 × 10^-7 refractive index units （RIU）. Furthermore, it is found that the incidence angle can be used as a parameter to adjust the operating range of the sensor to different refractive index ranges.