基于包层模的光纤布拉格光栅折射率传感特性

提出了基于光纤布拉格光栅(FBG)包层模式的折射率传感方案。实验中,利用不同浓度的丙三醇水溶液作为外界折射率传感溶液,采用氢氟酸溶液化学腐蚀的方法来减小光纤包层的直径以增大包层模式对外界折射率的敏感度,研究了腐蚀后光纤布拉格光栅包层模式的耦合波长对外部折射率的变化关系。实验结果表明在1.3300~1.4584的折射率范围内,包层模式耦合波长随外界折射率增大而增大,在接近光纤包层折射率处具有很高的折射率灵敏度,最大达到了172 nm/riu(refractive index unit)。而且,包层模谐振的光谱半峰全宽(约0.07 nm)仅为布拉格纤芯模谐振光谱半峰全宽的1/4,能够获得更好的传感精度。     

Three-hole microstructured optical fiber for efficient fiber Bragg grating refractometer

We present a photosensitive three-hole microstructured optical fiber specifically designed to improve the refractive index sensitivity of a standard fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor photowritten in the suspended Ge-doped silica core. We describe the specific photowriting procedure used to realize gratings in such a fiber. We then determine their spectral sensitivity to the refractive index changes of material filling the holes surrounding the core. The sensitivity is compared with that of standard FBGs photowritten in a six-hole fiber with a larger core diameter. We demonstrate an improvement in the sensitivity by two orders of magnitude and reach a resolution of 3 x 10(-5) and 6 x 10(-6) around mean refractive index values of 1.33 and 1.40, respectively.     

Sampled fiber Bragg grating for simultaneous refractive-index and temperature measurement

We present a novel scheme for simultaneous measurement of temperature and refractive index by use of a single sampled fiber Bragg grating (SFBG). The intrinsic nature of a SFBG that possesses both fiber Bragg grating and long-period grating spectral responses permits the temperature effect to the measured solely from the former, whereas the refractive-index information is extracted from the latter. Using such a dual-parameter sensor, we successfully demonstrated measurement of the dependence on temperature of the refractive index of an aqueous solution of sucrose.     

基于少模-无芯-少模光纤结构的高灵敏度折射率传感器

光纤折射率传感器广泛应用于各种复杂环境的监测。设计了一种基于少模光纤（fewmode fiber,FMF）–无芯光纤（coreless fiber,CLF）–FMF结构的高灵敏度折射率传感器。该传感器由2小段FMF之间熔接1段减薄的CLF组成马赫-增德尔干涉仪（Mach–Zehnder interference,MZI）,测量外界折射率,利用光纤布拉格光栅（fiber Bragg grating,FBG）进行温度补偿。MZI干涉光谱中的谐振波谷同时受折射率和温度影响,FBG只受温度的影响。利用MZI和FBG的折射率和温度灵敏度系数构建灵敏度矩阵,实现折射率和温度的同步测量。实验结果表明,MZI折射率灵敏度为345.66 nm/RIU,温度灵敏度为0.013 4 nm/℃;FBG的温度灵敏度为0.010 4 nm/℃。     

Optic sensors of high refractive-index responsivity and low thermal cross sensitivity that use fiber Bragg gratings of >80 degrees tilted structures

For the first time to the authors' knowledge, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) with >80 degrees tilted structures have been fabricated and characterized. Their performance in sensing temperature, strain, and the surrounding medium's refractive index was investigated. In comparison with normal FBGs and long-period gratings (LPGs), >80 degrees tilted FBGs exhibit significantly higher refractive-index responsivity and lower thermal cross sensitivity. When the grating sensor was used to detect changes in refractive index, a responsivity as high as 340 nm/refractive-index unit near an index of 1.33 was demonstrated, which is three times higher than that of conventional LPGs.     

具有温度自校准功能的光纤折射率传感器

提出一种具有温度自校准功能的光纤折射率（RI）传感器,传感头结构由2段很短的多模光纤（MMF）之间夹熔一段对折射率不敏感的光纤布拉格光栅（FBG）构成,传感头总长度为14 mm,FBG可以为折射率测量提供良好的温度校准功能。实验结果证明,该传感器的折射率灵敏度为126 nm。其干涉光谱共振波长的温度灵敏度为35.09 pm/℃,用于温度校准的FBG的温度灵敏度为11.14 pm/℃。相比于普通的折射率传感器,这种具有温度自校准功能的折射率传感器具有良好的实用前景。     

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature using dual-period grapefruit microstructured fiber grating

By cascading the long period fiber grating (LPFG) and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) in grapefruit microstructured fiber, a novel dual-period fiber grating sensor is proposed. The refractive index and temperature are measured simultaneously by using the different sensitivity of FBG and LPFG. The relationship between dual-period fiber grating transmission spectrum and refractive index, resonant wavelengths and temperature are analyzed theoretically, respectively. The simulation results show that the accuracy of the sensor in measuring refractive index and temperature is estimated to be 2319.6 nm/RIU in a range from 1.33 to 1.36 and 0.017 nm/°C from 0 °C to 100 °C, respectively. Thus, the sensor has high refractive index sensitivity, and can provide the theoretical foundation for the optical fiber biosensor.     

Fiber refractometer based on a fiber Bragg grating and single-mode-multimode-single-mode fiber structure

A refractive index (RI) sensor based on a novel fiber structure that consists of a single-mode-multimode-single-mode (SMS) fiber structure followed by a fiber Bragg grating was demonstrated. The multimode fiber in the SMS structure excites cladding modes within output single-mode fiber (SMF) and recouple the reflected cladding Bragg wavelength to the input SMF core. By measuring the relative Bragg wavelength shift between core and cladding Bragg wavelengths, the RI can be determined. Experimentally we have achieved a maximum sensitivity of 7.33 nm/RIU (RI unit) at RI range from 1.324 to 1.439.     

微纳光纤布拉格光栅折射率传感特性研究

利用光纤布拉格光栅方程和光纤基模有效折射率随纤芯半径和环境折射率的函数关系, 建立了微纳光纤布拉格光栅(MNFBG)反射波长随环境折射率变化的数学模型, 给出了波长灵敏度函数, 并指出MNFBG反射波长的变化规律决定于有效折射率随纤芯半径和环境折射率变化的关系. 详细探究了有效折射率及其灵敏度的变化规律, 结果表明: 有效折射率随纤芯半径和环境折射率的减小而非线性减小, 其对环境折射率变化的灵敏度随环境折射率的增大而非线性增加, 而且随纤芯半径减小, 有效折射率的灵敏度、线性度以及线性响应范围均呈递增规律. 通过对纤芯半径为0.5 μm的MNFBG在1.20–1.30和1.33–1.43 环境折射率范围内的波长响应关系拟合, 分别获得了477.33 nm/RIU和856.30 nm/RIU的波长灵敏度以及99.58 %和99.7%的高线性度, 论证了分析结论以及折射率区间划分测量方案的正确性, 为MNFBG折射率传感器的设计、优化以及应用提供了参考依据. 关键词： 微纳光纤 光纤布拉格光栅 折射率传感 数值模拟     

Performance study of a liquid-core Bragg fiber sensor in presence of a defect layer

Performance parameter of a Bragg fiber waveguide based resonant sensor in presence of a defect layer in cladding regions is theoretically studied. The Bragg fiber waveguide consists of a liquid-core surrounded by alternate high and low refractive indices materials in cladding regions. Reflectivity of the proposed waveguide based resonant sensor is formulated using transfer matrix method for a non-homogeneous multilayer cylindrical system. The waveguide shows a band gap region with a narrow defect mode in the band gap region under the considered wavelength range. Instead of taking a whole band gap as a sensing signal, here the defect peak is taken as the sensing signal. It is observed that the intensity of defect mode is more sensitive for core refractive index than the intensity of traditional band gap region (lobe). This study shows that the higher sensitivity can be achieved by creating the defect at a position in cladding region where the intensity of transmitted light lies between 40% and 90%. Presence of a defect layer is able to increase the detection accuracy of the sensor and, hence increase the overall performance of this sensor.     

Investigation on micro/nanofiber Bragg grating for refractive index sensing

We propose a refractometric sensor based on micro/nanofiber Bragg grating (MNFBG). The refractive index (RI) sensing performance dependence on the fiber radius and Bragg grating period of the sensor, as well as the temperature cross-sensitive effect, is investigated theoretically. The simulation results demonstrate that 400 nm-radius MNFBG has a linear response to RI ranging from 1.3 to 1.39 with a sensitivity as high as 992.7 nm/RIU and half temperature cross-sensitivity of normal FBG. A maximum sensitivity of up to 1200 nm/RIU and an outstanding RI resolution of 8.3 × 10^-6 can be achieved. MNFBG has high potential in various types of optical fiber sensor applications.     

不同包层直径的倾斜光纤光栅折射率传感特性

倾斜光纤光栅的透射谱中有纤芯模和大量的包层模,它们具有与布拉格光栅相同的温度特性.利用HF酸腐蚀的方法得到具有不同包层直径的倾斜光纤光栅,研究了其对外界折射率的传感特性.结果表明,外界环境折射率在1.333～1.4532之间变化时,同一直径倾斜光纤光栅的高阶包层模的敏感性要比低阶包层模强;随着包层直径的减小,包层模的敏感性增强,且在折射率比较高的环境中有更高的敏感性.因此,利用倾斜光纤光栅的温度特性不仅可以解决温度交叉敏感问题,而且通过小同的腐蚀程度能定制所需要的灵敏度,以实现对环境折射率的高灵敏度测量.该办法可应用于对生物和化学等高灵敏度传感领域的各种溶液进行实时监控.     

Optical fiber Bragg grating hydrogen sensor based on evanescent-field interaction with palladium thin-film transducer

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors in single-mode optical fibers are widely applied for measurement of temperature and strain. If exposing FBG sensors to an external analyte by planar side-polishing technique of the fiber, evanescent-field interaction yields a Bragg wavelength shift also by changing the refractive index of the analyte. Deposition of sensor-specific transducer layers on the side-polished fiber can specify this spectrally encoding and network-capable optochemical fiber Bragg grating refractometry to the monitoring of specific substances, absorbed gases and vapors. In this paper, the sensor principle is demonstrated for the example of a hydrogen gas sensor based on a palladium thin-film transducer. Hydrogen in 0.1–4% volume concentration range can be monitored by the spectral shift of the Bragg wavelength, which is caused by the decreasing complex refractive index of Pd with increasing absorption of hydrogen.     

Detection of liquid-level variation using a side-polished fiber Bragg grating

A liquid-level sensor based on a side-polished fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensor can detect height variation of liquids of arbitrary refractive index (RI). For liquids with RI lower than that of fiber core, liquid-level variation can be monitored by the peak power difference of the grating segments surrounded by the liquid and air. For liquids with RI higher than that of fiber core, liquid-level information can be obtained from the influence of the shortening of the effective length of the immersed grating segment upon the reflection spectrum.     

Simultaneous Measurement of Refractive Index and Temperature Using a Hybrid Fiber Bragg Grating/Long-Period Fiber Grating Configuration

Abstract

A fiber optic sensing system for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature, based on a hybrid fiber Bragg grating/long-period grating arrangement is described. The experimental results show that this setup has a good performance in terms of linearity and sensitivity, the ratiometric output changes 4%/0.001 RIU and 3.6%/°C, respectively. The sensor resolution for the refractive index is ≈2 × 10^?5 RIU. The simultaneous measurement of the refractive index and temperature was demonstrated. The sensing configuration has the ability to be read-out in reflection and works in the telecommunications window.     

Hybrid FBG–LPG sensor for surrounding refractive index and temperature simultaneous discrimination

In this work, we propose a configuration of a hybrid fiber Bragg grating together with a long period grating sensor used for simultaneously detect surrounding refractive index and temperature to be applied in aqueous environment and to reveal pollution. We present the simulation of such sensor and analyze the reflected wavelength and amplitude variations of the fiber Bragg grating spectrum to obtain the temperature and the external refractive index variations, respectively. The results show that the fiber Bragg grating reflected amplitude change depends on the variation of the long period grating transmission spectrum with the surrounding refractive index modification and the reflected wavelength shift depends on the temperature of the aqueous solution.     

一种基于模间干涉的亚波长直径光纤气体折射率传感

设计了一种基于模间干涉的亚波长直径光纤气体折射率传感方案,并分析了其测量灵敏度.将标准单模光纤和一段仅传输基模与二阶模的无包层亚波长直径光纤结合形成传感头,通过分析传感头外气体折射率的变化对两个模式干涉谱峰值移动的影响,研究了这种传感器的折射率测量灵敏度.结果表明,这种传感器的灵敏度高于利用折射率引导型光子晶体光纤的基于模间干涉的折射率传感器.因为没有气体向微孔扩散的过程,这种基于模间干涉的亚波长光纤折射率传感器可用于实时探测.     

Ultrahigh sensitivity polarimetric strain sensor based upon D-shaped optical fiber and surface plasmon resonance technology

An ultrahigh sensitivity polarimetric strain sensor is proposed based upon a four-layer D-shaped optical fiber and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. In contrast to existing SPR-based sensors, which are based on changes in the refractive index of the overlayer, the sensor proposed in this study is based on the change in the refractive index of the fiber core in response to the application of an axial load. Specifically, the phase difference between the P and S waves after passing through the sensor under SPR conditions is measured using a common-path heterodyne interferometer and is used to determine the corresponding change in the refractive index of the core, from which the strain is then inversely derived. The experimental results show that the sensitivity of the proposed sensor is around 2.19×10? deg/ε, i.e., degree/strain. By contrast, that of a conventional (non-SPR) polarimetric fiber sensor is just 5.2×102 deg/ε. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the sensor proposed in this study represents the first reported attempt to exploit the refractive index change of the core of an SPR-based fiber sensor for strain measurement purposes.     

Microstructured fiber based plasmonic index sensor with optimized accuracy and calibration relation in large dynamic range

A novel surface plasmon resonance photonic sensor is proposed using an index-guided microstructured fiber with an analyte channel introduced into the central core. Compared with the previous designs of porous fiber core, variation of the signal amplitude with exterior refractive index is demonstrated to be contrary to that of the sensitivity in the proposed fiber, contributing to optimized detecting accuracy over a large refractive index range of 1.33 to 1.42. By carefully choosing the central channel size, the analyte-filled core can achieve narrower resonance spectral width and higher signal to noise ratio (SNR) than the air-filled core. Sensor responses are also studied in this paper based on two spectral interrogation methods, including monitoring single resonance shift and measuring change in the resonance separation. For both methods, response linearity has been improved considerably through partially filling the core with analyte. The maximal sensitivity reaches 10^− 6 refractive index unit (RIU). The linear sensing performance along with the broad measurement range is very promising in the application of the proposed sensor as sensitive refractometer.     

Photonic crystal fiber tip interferometer for refractive index sensing

In this paper we present an interferometer based on photonic crystal fiber (PCF) tip ended with a solid silica-sphere for refractive index sensing. The sensor is fabricated by splicing one end of the holey PCF to a single mode fiber (SMF) and applying arc at the other end to form a solid sphere. The sensor has been experimentally tested for refractive index and temperature sensing by monitoring its wavelength shift. Measurement results show that the sensor has the resolution of the order of 8.7×10(-4) over the refractive index range of 1.33-1.40, and temperature sensitivity of the order of 10 pm/°C in the range of 20-100 °C.