基于包层腐蚀优化折射率敏感的光子晶体光纤马赫-曾德尔干涉仪

Photonic Crystal Fiber Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Based on Refractive Index Sensitivity of Cladding Corrosion Optimization

为了减小光纤包层厚度并提升干涉仪的折射率灵敏度,设计一种结构简单、容易制作的光子晶体光纤马赫-曾德尔干涉仪。首先,在两根单模光纤之间熔接一段光子晶体光纤(PCF);然后,在自制的腐蚀槽中采用氢氟酸进行化学腐蚀来减小包层厚度,并通过控制变量的方法,研究光子晶体光纤的长度、腐蚀时间,以及环境温度对制得的干涉仪灵敏度的影响。结果表明,随着光纤长度增加,制得的干涉仪的灵敏度提高。将3cm的PCF在质量分数为40%的氢氟酸溶液中腐蚀40min后,制得的干涉仪的灵敏度增加了约3倍。环境温度对制得的干涉仪的灵敏度几乎无影响。

In order to reduce the thickness of fiber cladding and improve the refractive index sensitivity of the interferometer, a simple photonic crystal fiber (PCF) Mach-Zehnder interferometer which is easy to fabricate is developed. First, a PCF is fused between two single-mode fibers;then, in a self-made etching tank, hydrofluoric acid is used to reduce the thickness of the cladding. The effects of the length, corrosion time, and ambient temperature on the sensitivity of PCFs are studied by controlling the above variable factors. The results show that the sensitivity increases with the increasing length of the optical fiber, and increases about three times after 40 min corrosion in hydrofluoric acid solution with mass fraction of 40% for 3 cm PCF. The ambient temperature has little influence on the sensitivity of the PCF Mach-Zehnder interferometer.