Silver nanocrystals modified microstructured polymer optical fibres for chemical and optical sensing

In-fibre chemical and optical sensors based on silver nanocrystals modified microstructured polymer optical fibres (MPOFs) were demonstrated. The silver nanocrystals modified MPOFs were formed by direct chemical reduction of silver ammonia complex ions on the templates of array holes in the microstructure polymer optical fibres. The nanotube-like and nanoisland-like Ag-modified MPOFs could be obtained by adjusting the conditions of Ag-formation in the air holes of MPOFs. SEM images showed that the higher concentration of the reaction solution (silver ammonia 0.5 mol/L, glucose 0.25 mol/L), gave rise to a tubular silver layer in MPOF, while the lower concentration (silver ammonia 0.1 M, glucose 0.05 M) produced an island-like Ag nanocrystal modified MPOF. The tubular Ag-MPOF composite fibre was conductive and could be directly used as array electrodes in electrochemical analyses. It displayed high electrochemical activity on sensing nitrate or nitrite ions. The enhanced fluorescence of dye molecules was observed when the island-like Ag-modified MPOF was inserted into a fluorescent dye solution.     

Optical fibre modulator based on electrostatic attraction

A fibre-based electrostatic deflector is described that enables modulating the optical signal in fibre systems. A 2.5-cm long fibre length was gold coated and deflected through the application of voltage between the fibre and an external electrode. Static measurements showed that the device is suitable for e-field sensing, and 100% power modulation was obtained for resonant frequencies 1 kHz. A peak voltage as low as 2 V gave a 15% modulation depth with 65 μm diameter fibre, and the maximum frequency measured for a 65 μm fibre was 40 kHz. In a proof-of-principle experiment, a 1.61-μm wavelength Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ fibre laser was Q-switched by placing the electrostatic fibre modulator inside the cavity, generating pulses of 4-μs duration.     

Influence of laser irradiation on the optical and structural properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibres

Laser irradiation has been previously investigated for achieving uniform heating of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres in the hot-drawing stage of the production process, so as to obtain better fibre mechanical properties. The optical properties and dye uptake of PET fibres also depend on the polymer chain orientation and crystallinity within the fibre structure. This paper reports an investigation of a concept whereby laser irradiation and interferometry could be used to modify and trace a small change in the optical properties of a PET monofilament fibre, but the corresponding change in the dye uptake would not be detected visually. A copper vapour laser (550-580 nm wavelengths) was used to expose consecutive 4 mm lengths along a running length of monofilament to 39.8 W cm⁻², at a pulse rate of 9.89 kHz in order to modify, in a controlled way, the polymer crystallinity and orientation. A 3D finite element simulation, based on uncoupled heat-transfer analysis, indicated that rapid heating and cooling could be obtained with the laser to give the small changes required. Irradiated and untreated samples were analysed by interferometry and a 0.16% change was detected in the birefringence profiles, corresponding to a small reduction in the degree of orientation and crystallinity of the irradiated samples. Density measurements and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) analysis confirmed the change in crystallinity. Tests conducted for dye adsorption and tensile strength showed a small increase in the former and only a very small decrease in the latter. It was concluded that these changes in property provide the opportunity for a laser-irradiated PET monofilament fibre to be used as a subtle tracer element in brand labels for textile garments as an anti-counterfeit measure.     

A multipoint quasi-distributed optical fiber pH sensor

This paper reports the development and characterisation of a multipoint quasi-distributed optical fiber sensor for pH measurement. The system is based on a 170 m length of 200 μm core diameter plastic cladding silica fiber where sections of cladding have been removed and replaced with dye immobilised sol-gel glass to form sensing points. Evanescent wave excitation of a dye, immobilised within 2 mm long sections of cladding, enables the pH value of any spillage material to be determined by optical time domain reflectometry along the length of the fiber. The results suggest a spatial resolution of better than 2.5 meters for this fiber system and indicate that this arrangement could form the basis of a practical sensor/actuator system for chemical spillage, provided that suitable dye/analyte combinations are available.     

Rare Earth Doped Optical Fibre From Oxide Nanoparticles

Rare earth (RE) doped optical fibres were fabricated by using RE oxides coated silica nanoparticles. The fibre properties are comparable to those prepared by conventional techniques. The process offers better control over RE incorporation and homogeneity in the preform.     

Gold coated metal nanostructures grown by glancing angle deposition and pulsed electroplating

Nickel based nanostructures are grown by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) on flat and pre-patterned substrates. These fabricated porous thin films were subsequently coated by pulsed electroplating with gold. The morphology and conformity of the gold coating were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Controlled growth of closed gold layers on the nanostructures could be achieved, while the open-pore structure of the nanosculptured thin films was preserved. Such gold coated nanostructures are a candidate for optical sensing and catalysis applications. The demonstrated method can be applied for numerous material combinations, allowing to provide GLAD thin films with new surface properties.     

Optical path automatic compensation low-coherence interferometric fibre-optic temperature sensor

An interferometric fibre-optic temperature sensing system employing a light emitting diode (LED) as the broadband optical source and a single mode fibre coil which was fabricated in a definite length as the sensor head is described. A reference fibre line transmitting back and forth along the same path as the sensing transmitting fibre is used, so the change caused by the environmental temperature fluctuation of the fibre path can automatically be compensated. The sensitivity of the sensing system can be easily improved by using the long length of the sensing fibre. The experiment results of the sensing gauge length versus the sensitivity are given. Two typical wavelengths (1300 and 1550 nm). LED sources are used, it is shown that the sensitivity of the system between the two wavelengths is different. The experimental curve of the resolution characteristic of the system related to the length of sensing fibre coil is also discussed.     

Linearly polarised three-colour lasing emission from an evanescent wave pumped and gain coupled fibre laser

A novel Whispering--Gallery--Mode (WGM) fibre laser, emitting linearly polarised three-colour light, is demonstrated by pumping and gain coupling with evanescent waves. The pump light is longitudinally coupled into a bare optical fibre immersed in a dye solution of lower refractive index. The dye molecules around the bare fibre are excited by the evanescent waves of pump light when they propagate along the fibre in a total internal reflection. When the pump beam within the fibre is a meridian beam, the WGM lasing emission from the fibre laser is a linearly polarised transverse electric wave, while it is a mixed wave of the linearly polarised transverse electric and magnetic waves if the pump beam is a skew beam within the fibre. Because the excited molecules are located within the evanescent field of WGM, a good spatial overlap between the dye gain and the evanescent field leads to a high pumping efficiency and a longer gain distance along the fibre. Once the bare fibre is inserted into three glass capillaries filled with Rhodamine 6G, 610 and 640 dye solutions, respectively, WGM laser oscillations at the wavelengths of 567--575, 605--614 and 656--666~nm occur simultaneously, and a linearly polarised three-colour lasing emission is achieved in a single optical fibre.     

轴向隐失波激励的回音壁模式光纤激光器

采用轴向隐失波激励增益的方式,使激光增益区域局限在光纤回音壁模式的模场区域内,显著地降低了回音壁模式光纤激光辐射的抽运阈值,由此形成一种低阈值的回音壁模式光纤激光器.在微焦耳量级的低抽运能量条件下,用回音壁模式光纤激光器研究了激光染料的浓度效应.实验结果表明,随着激光染料浓度的增加,回音壁模式激光辐射的波长向长波方向移动,激光波长范围变宽.用回音壁模式染料激光的四能级模型得到激光上能级和所有能级上的分子数比值γ(λ)曲线后,很好地解释了实验结果.低抽运阈值的回音壁模式光纤激光器,为研究液体激光现象提供了极为便利的手段.     

Effect of sonochemical scouring on the surface morphologies,mechanical properties,and dyeing abilities of wool fibres

Ultrasonics has the potential to reduce the cost and environmental impact of textile processing. This work investigates the effects of ultrasonic irradiation during wool scouring on fibre surface morphologies, fibre mechanical properties, and fibre dyeing abilities. A range of ultrasonic frequencies were used in the scouring bath to examine the forms of fibre cuticle damage. It is observed that wool fibres underwent ultrasonic irradiation at a low frequency have severe modifications of the fibre surface structure. Despite some visible disruptions to the fibre scale structure however, ultrasonic irradiation has shown a negligible impact on the fibre mechanical properties, especially bending abrasion resistance which depends largely on the fibre surface conditions, and is responsible for the handle and pilling propensity of the resultant fabrics. Dyeing abilities were investigated on wool samples using commercially available acid dye and reactive dye. It is found that ultrasonically scoured wool has a quicker dye uptake in the early stage of low temperature dyeing for both acid dye and reactive dye, than the conventionally scoured wool.     

Transmission properties of microcoils based on twisted birefringent fibre

We model the linear transmission properties of birefringent optical microcoil resonators (OMRs) by numerically solving polarisation dependent coupled mode equations. When the fibre is twisted, results show spectral bands where strong coupling between the different polarisations occur. The extinction ratio of certain resonances is also found to be enhanced by the exchange of power into another polarisation. Compared to the standard OMR, the choice of fibre twist and level of birefringence provide additional flexibility in tailoring the OMR spectral properties as needed for applications such as filtering, signal processing and sensing.     

Production and use of an interferometric optical strain gauge with comparison to conventional techniques

The use of optical fibres in transducers has recently attracted much interest and the adoption of optical techniques in strain detection is growing due to the reliability and accuracy they can offer in harsh environmental conditions (strong electromagnetic fields, high temperature, corrosive chemicals, etc.) where the conventional electrical strain gauges often fail.In this paper an optical strain gauge based on a true fibre Michelson interferometric scheme is developed and tested. The discrete optical strain gauge is realised by embedding the optical fibre sensing leads into a resin support which allows its easy installation and use. The related static and dynamic behaviours are investigated and compared with those of similar optical sensing systems either directly bonded to the structure or embedded in composite laminates. Comparisons are also made with theoretical predictions and measurements supplied by semiconductor electrical strain gauges.     

Spectro-ellipsometric studies of activated sol-gel thin films to detect Cu ions in aqueous solutions

Thickness, refractive index n and extinction coefficient k of eriochrome cyanine R (ECR) dye doped mesostructured silica film (ECRMSSF) dip-coated on silicon wafers without prior removal of surfactant have been determined in the visible range of the spectrum by spectroscopic-ellipsometry (SE). ECRMSSF was used as sensing detection layer of Cu²⁺ in aqueous solutions of known pH. The dependence of optical parameters on the pH range of the aqueous phase (pH=6-8) was investigated. The detection reversibility of ECRMSSF was demonstrated. An electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum demonstrated the complexation of Cu²⁺ by the entrapped ECR.     

光纤回音壁模式的三波段激光辐射研究

将石英光纤浸入低折射率的激光染料溶液中构成圆柱形微腔.采用沿光纤轴向光抽运的消逝波激励增益方式,获得了沿光纤轴向长距离的激光染料增益,受激辐射光在圆柱形微腔中回音壁模式的支持下形成激光振荡.在直径为288 μm的同一根光纤外分三段分别填入罗丹明6G、罗丹明610和罗丹明640激光染料乙二醇溶液,实现了波长分别在567～575 nm、605～614 nm和656～666 nm三个不同波段的回音壁模式激光振荡,用一根光纤同时获得了红、橙、黄三种不同颜色的激光辐射.对实验所获得的回音壁模式激光光谱做了模式标定,依据标定的模式数计算了各种模式以及抽运光在光纤截面的强度分布.计算结果表明,激光增益区域总是局限在圆柱形微腔回音壁模式的模场区域内,由此可以显著地提高抽运效率,增加抽运光沿光纤轴向的增益长度.     

Use of polyethylene glycol coatings for optical fibre humidity sensing

Humidity induced change in the refractive index and thickness of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) coatings are in situ investigated for a range from 10 to 95%, using an optical waveguide spectroscopic technique. It is experimentally demonstrated that, upon humidity change, the optical and swelling characteristics of the PEG coatings can be employed to build a plastic fibre optic humidity sensor. The sensing mechanism is based on the humidity induced change in the refractive index of the PEG film, which is directly coated onto a polished segment of a plastic optical fibre with dip-coating method. It is observed that PEG, which is a highly hydrophilic material, shows no monotonic linear response to humidity but gives different characteristics for various ranges of humidity levels both in index of refraction and in thickness. It undergoes a physical phase change from a semi-crystalline structure to a gel one at around 80% relative humidity. At this phase change point, a drastic decrease occurs in the index of refraction as well as a drastic increase in the swelling of the PEG film. In addition, PEG coatings are hydrogenated in a vacuum chamber. It is observed that the hydrogen has a preventing effect on the humidity induced phase change in PEG coatings. Finally, the possibility of using PEG coatings in construction of a real plastic fibre optic humidity sensor is discussed.     

Cavity waveguide-output laser

We propose for the first time a laser configuration which couples the cavity standing wave field directly with an optical fibre or optical fibre taper using its polished face as an output coupling mirror. A method for direct, active and paraxial launching of laser emission into an optical fibre, adaptable for various laser active media, has been achieved on this basis. Some of the important parameters of this laser are expressed in analytical form. Experimental verification of the proposed idea has been conducted on the basis of a dye laser. Excellent intensity distribution has been obtained beyond the optical fibre output. Launching efficiency exceeding 80% has been predicted and measured experimentally.     

有机掺杂溶胶-凝胶法制备pH敏感膜及其光谱响应的研究

使用四甲氧基硅烷（TMOS）和二甲基二甲氧基硅烷（DiMe-DMOS)为共先驱体，采用溶胶－凝胶的有机掺杂，制备对pH具有宽程响应的敏感膜。详细考察了包埋溴酚蓝和溴酚绿的敏感膜对pH的响应值、响应时间、泄漏和可逆性等响应性能指标，并进行了溴酚蓝和溴酚绿在水相与膜内吸收光谱的研究。     

A novel method of rapidly modeling optical properties of actual photonic crystal fibres

<正>The flexible structure of photonic crystal fibre not only offers novel optical properties but also brings some difficulties in keeping the fibre structure in the fabrication process which inevitably cause the optical properties of the resulting fibre to deviate from the designed properties.Therefore,a method of evaluating the optical properties of the actual fibre is necessary for the purpose of application.Up to now,the methods employed to measure the properties of the actual photonic crystal fibre often require long fibre samples or complex expensive equipments.To our knowledge, there are few studies of modeling an actual photonic crystal fibre and evaluating its properties rapidly.In this paper,a novel method,based on the combination model of digital image processing and the finite element method,is proposed to rapidly model the optical properties of the actual photonic crystal fibre.Two kinds of photonic crystal fibres made by Crystal Fiber A/S are modeled.It is confirmed from numerical results that the proposed method is simple,rapid and accurate for evaluating the optical properties of the actual photonic crystal fibre without requiring complex equipment.     

Pulsed interferometric optical fibre sensor detecting wiretapping in long transmission lines

A modified optical fibre based Mach-Zehnder interferometer was applied as a sensor to detect wiretapping in long transmission optical fibre lines. The signal consisting of short pulses (around 1?ns) was launched to the input of the interferometer based on the polarization maintaining fibres and polarization elements. When the sensing line was undisturbed, detectors registered only a single pulse. The additional two side pulses appear, if the wiretapping attempt took place. For robust detection of any alarm situation we proposed two-criteria algorithm to minimize false alarm rate. Moreover, slow environmental fluctuations were continuously monitored and compensated by polarization controllers. We measured frequency characteristics of the sensor and performed a hundred wiretapping attempts, which proved high performance of the sensor.     

Cucurbit[7]uril Disrupts Aggregate Formation Between Rhodamine B Dyes Covalently Attached to Glass Substrates

Dye aggregation is detrimental to the performance of high optical density dye-doped photonic materials. To overcome this challenge, the ability of cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) as a molecular host to disrupt aggregate formation on glass substrates was examined. Rhodamine B was covalently attached to glass slides by initially coating the surface with azidohexylsiloxane followed by copper-catalyzed “click” triazole formation with rhodamine B propargyl ester. The absorption and emission spectra of rhodamine B coated slides in water indicated diverse heterogeneous properties as surface dye density varied. Fluorescence quenching due to dye aggregation was evident at high surface dye density. Addition of aqueous cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) to the surface-tethered dyes perturbed the spectra to reveal a considerable reduction in heterogeneity, which suggested that the presence of a surface in close proximity does not significantly impair CB7’s ability to complex with tethered rhodamine B.