Miniaturized Fiber-Optic Fabry-Perot Interferometer for Highly Sensitive Refractive Index Measurement

This paper presents a novel miniaturized fiber-optic Fabry-Peort interferometer （FPI） for highly sensitive refractive index measurement. This device was tested for the refractive indices of various liquids including acetone and ethanol at room temperature. The sensitivity for measurement of refractive index change of ethanol is 1138 nm/RIU at the wavelength of 1550 nm. In addition, the sensor fabrication is simple including only cleaving, splicing, and etching. The signal is stable with high visibility. Therefore, it provides a valuable tool in biological and chemical applications.

Mesa Diaphragm-Based Fabry-Perot Optical MEMS Pressure Sensor

An optical micro electron mechanical system （MEMS） pressure sensor with a mesa membrane is presented. The operating principle of the MEMS pressure sensor is expatiated by the Fabry-Perot （F-P） interference and the relation between deflection and pressure is analyzed. Both the mechanical model of the mesa structure diaphragm and the signal averaging effect is validated by simulation, which declares that the mesa structure diaphragm is superior to the planar one on the parallelism and can reduce the signal averaging effect. Experimental results demonstrate that the mesa structure sensor has a reasonable linearity and sensitivity.

Ultrasonic signal detection based on Fabry–Perot cavity sensor

Acoustic/ultrasonic sensors are devices that can convert mechanical energy into electrical signals.The Fabry–Perot cavity is processed on the end face of the double-clad fiber by a two-photon three-dimensional lithography machine.In this study,the outer diameter of the core cladding was 250μm,the diameter of the core was 9μm,and the microcavity sensing unit was only 30μm.It could measure ultrasonic signals with high precision.The characteristics of the proposed ultrasonic sensor were investigated,and its feasibility was proven through experiments.Its design has a small size and can replace a larger ultrasonic detector device for photoacoustic signal detection.The sensor is applicable to the field of biomedical information technology,including medical diagnosis,photoacoustic endoscopy,and photoacoustic imaging.

Utilization of Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometers with Spectral Interferometric Interrogation for Microdisplacement Measurement

The paper presents a number of signal processing approaches for the spectral interferometric interrogation of extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometers(EFPIs). The analysis of attainable microdisplacement resolution is performed and the analytical equations describing the dependence of resolution on parameters of the interrogation setup are derived. The efficiency of the proposed signal processing approaches and the validity of analytical derivations are supported by experiments. The proposed approaches allow the interrogation of up to four multiplexed sensors with attained resolution between 30 pm and 80 pm, up to three times improvement of microdisplacement resolution of a single sensor by means of using the reference interferometer and noisecompensating approach, and ability to register signals with frequencies up to 1 kHz in the case of 1 Hz spectrum acquisition rate. The proposed approaches can be used for various applications, including biomedical, industrial inspection, and others, amongst the microdisplacement measurement.

Pressure Sensor Based on the Fiber-Optic Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometer

Pressure sensors based on fiber-optic extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer(EFPI)have been extensively applied in various industrial and biomedical fields.In this paper,some key improvements of EFPI-based pressure sensors such as the controlled thermal bonding technique,diaphragm-based EFPI sensors,and white light interference technology have been reviewed.Recent progress on signal demodulation method and applications of EFPI-based pressure sensors has been introduced.Signal demodulation algorithms based on the cross correlation and mean square error(MSE)estimation have been proposed for retrieving the cavity length of EFPI.Absolute measurement with a resolution of 0.08 nm over large dynamic range has been carried out.For downhole monitoring,an EFPI and a fiber Bragg grating(FBG)cascade multiplexing fiber-optic sensor system has been developed,which can operate in temperature 300℃with a good long-term stability and extremely low temperature cross-sensitivity.Diaphragm-based EFPI pressure sensors have been successfully used for low pressure and acoustic wave detection.Experimental results show that a sensitivity of 31 mV/Pa in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 12.7 kHz for aeroacoustic wave detection has been obtained.

Design of Fiber Magnetic Field Sensor Based on Fiber Bragg Grating Fabry-Perot Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy

A novel fiber magnetic sensor based on the fiber Bragg grating Fabry-Perot （FBG-FP） cavity ring-down technique with pulse laser injection is proposed and demonstrated theoretically. A general expression of the intensity of the output electric field is derived, and the effect of the external magnetic field on the ring-down time is discussed. The results show that the output light intensity and the ring-down time of the FBG-FP cavity are in the inverse proportion to the magnitude of the external magnetic field. Our results demonstrate the new concept of the fiber magnetic sensor with the FBG-FP cavity ring-down spectroscopy and the technical feasibility.

High-finesse displacement sensor and a theoretical accelerometer model based on a fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer

A displacement sensor based on the fiber Fabry-Perot (F-P) cavity was proposed in this paper. Theoretical and experimental analyses were presented. Displacement resolution was demonstrated by spectrum-domain experiments to obtain the dynamic range of the F-P sensor, and a piezoelectric crystal unit (PZT) was used as the driver. The output signal was modulated by a piezoelectric ceramic ring and demodulated by a phase-locked oscillator. The experimental results show that the displacement resolution of the F-P sensor is less than 5 nm and the dynamic range is more than 100 μm. As acceleration is the second-order differential of displacement, an accelerometer model was proposed using the finite element method (FEM) nd ANSYS software.

Fiber-Optic Microstructure Sensors:A Review

This paper reviews a wide variety of fiber-optic microstructure(FOM)sensors,such as fiber Bragg grating(FBG)sensors,long-period fiber grating(LPFG)sensors,Fabry-Perot interferometer(FPI)sensors,Mach-Zchnder interferometer(MZI)sensors,Michelson interferometer(MI)sensors,and Sagnac interferometer(SI)sensors.Each FOM sensor has been introduced in the terms of structure types,fabrication methods,and their sensing applications.In addition,the sensing characteristics of different structures under the same type of FOM sensor are compared,and the sensing characteristics of the all FOM sensors,including advantages,disadvantages,and main sensing parameters,are summarized.We also discuss the future development of FOM sensors.

Study on Fiber-Optic Low-Coherence Interferometric and Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors

This article reviews author＇s research work on fiber-optic sensors over the last twenty years. It includes two aspects： low-coherence interferometric sensors （LCI） and fiber Bragg grating （FBG） sensors. For LCI sensors, author＇s work mainly focuses on the interrogation and multiplexing methods for Fizeau and Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors at the University of Kent at Canterbury （UKC）, UK, and study on novel Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors and their multiplexing methods at Chongqing University （CQU） and University of Electronic Science ＆ Technology of China （UESTC）, China, respectively. For FBG sensors, a number of multiplexing schemes are proposed and demonstrated at UKC, and then novel methods for realization of multi-parameter measurement and long-distance measurement based on the FBG sensor and its combination with other optical fiber sensors are also reported at CQU ＆ UESTC. Thus, author＇s study on these two topics can be diviaed into two periods, at UKC and at CQU ＆ UESTC, China. This review is presented in such a time sequence.

Ultrafast Laser Fabrication of Novel Fiber Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Sensors and Its Cost-Effective Alternative Manufacturing Methods (Invited Paper)

The recent progresses of fiber sensor fabrication in our group are reviewed.Novel inline fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer(MZI) sensors with various structures are proposed and manufactured by femtosecond laser fabrication and fusion splicing for high-quality sensing of refractivity-sensitive parameters such as temperature,concentration,humidity,pressure,stress and strain: a) for an MZI sensor with a trench on a single-mode fiber,the refractive index(RI) sensitivity of acetone vapor is about 104 nm/RIU(refractive index unit) and the temperature sensitivity is 51.5 pm/℃ from 200 to 875 ℃;b) For an MZI consisting of two micro-air-cavities,the sensitivity is 501.5 nm/RIU and the detection limit is 1.994×10-6 RIU at the refractive index of 1.4;c) to reduce the fabrication cost,a new fusion-splicing based method is proposed to fabricate MZI sensors;the sensitivity is 664.57 nm/RIU with a detection limit of 1.5×10-6 RIU and its cost is tens of times cheaper than those of commercialized long period fiber Gratings;Also,5×10-5 acetone vapors are successfully detected by the MZI sensors coated with zeolite thin films.

纤芯失配的光纤Mach-Zehnder折射率传感器

基于Mach-Zehnder干涉仪原理,利用光纤错位熔接技术设计并制作了一种单模光纤-多模光纤-单模光纤-错位熔接点-单模光纤结构的液体折射率传感器.传感器中的多模光纤和错位连接部分充当光耦合器;多模光纤在后面的单模光纤的纤芯和包层中激发出纤芯模和包层模,不同的模式有不同的模式折射率,经中间单模光纤传输到错位熔接点处时,不同模式光之间将产生光程差,经错位熔接点耦合成为导出光纤的纤芯模从而产生干涉.对该传感器输出的干涉光谱中干涉谷功率随外界溶液折射率变化的规律进行了理论分析和实验研究.结果表明：溶液折射率变化为1.358 9～1.392 2时,干涉谱中1 530 nm附近的干涉谷光功率与溶液折射率呈单调递增关系,可用于折射率的测量;折射率变化为1.372 0～1.392 2时,传感器响应曲线具有很好的线性度,线性拟合系数为0.998,对应的灵敏度为252.06 dB/RIU.该传感器制作简单、结构紧凑、成本低、灵敏度高,可用于生物医学领域液体折射率的实时测量.

光纤光栅传感系统在PHC管桩成型过程中的测试研究

光纤光栅传感系统在各类工程中应用越来越广泛。针对目前光纤光栅传感系统在PHC管桩中应用的局限性,通过在PHC管桩生产过程中,埋设光纤光栅传感器和光纤导线,进行主要生产环节的传感器成活率测试。验证了在PHC管桩免蒸压技术生产工艺下,光纤光栅传感系统植入PHC管桩是可行的。方便了光纤光栅传感系统在PHC管桩中的应用,并提高了测试精度。首次提出在PHC管桩桩身内植入光纤光栅传感系统的测试方法,给出了管桩接桩时的光纤光栅传感系统穿线管预埋及桩顶端侧面穿线孔预留的方法,既保护了光纤光栅传感系统,又不对接桩造成影响,保证了接桩质量。

Fiber Fabry-Perot Interferometer for Curvature Sensing

A curvature sensor based on an Fabry-Perot （FP） interferometer was proposed. A capillary silica tube was fusion spliced between two single mode fibers, producing an FP cavity. Two FP sensors with different cavity lengths were developed and subjected to curvature and temperature. The FP sensor with longer cavity showed three distinct operating regions for the curvature measurement. Namely, a linear response was shown for an intermediate curvature radius range, presenting a maximum sensitivity of 68.52 pm/m-1. When subjected to temperature, the sensing head produced a similar response for different curvature radii, with a sensitivity varying from 0.84 pm/℃ to 0.89 pm/℃, which resulted in a small cross-sensitivity to temperature when the FP sensor was subjected to curvature. The FP cavity with shorter length presented low sensitivity to curvature.

基于多模光纤对芯熔接的全光纤温度传感器

传统SMS结构的光纤传感器具有模式单一、损耗较大的问题而导致温度灵敏度较低,文中采用单模-多模-多模-多模-单模结构的新型光纤马赫-曾德尔干涉传感器,对原有结构进行了改进。大芯径多模光纤与两端的单模光纤耦合,实现光的分束和合束,同时将大芯径多模光纤与小芯径多模光纤(MMF_(2))熔接,使高阶模与基模分别进入小芯径多模光纤包层与纤芯进行传输从而产生相位差,最终形成对温度敏感的模式干涉,理论分析了该结构的温度敏感特性。采用MMF_(2)长度分别为8 mm和12 mm的两种该结构传感器,温度灵敏度均能提高到80 pm/℃,同时该结构具有更低的应变灵敏度,可较好的规避应力变化带来的影响。除此之外该结构具有应变交叉敏感度低、制作简单、成本低廉且损耗小等优点,在监测温度方面具有广阔的应用前景。

同时测量温度与折射率的细芯锥形光纤传感器

在工程实际中,具有多参量同时测量功能的光纤传感器有很大的市场需求。为了实现多参量的同时测量,提出了一种“单模—无芯—细芯—无芯—单模”光纤熔接与拉锥的马赫-泽德尔干涉仪传感器。细芯光纤作为传感器的主要传感元件,利用多功能光纤熔接拉锥机对细芯光纤进行了精准拉锥,提高了传感器对环境温度与折射率的敏感度。研究了传感器对环境温度与折射率的传感特性,利用传感器透射谱中2个谐振峰波谷的温度和折射率灵敏度,构建测量矩阵,消除了交叉敏感,完成了温度与折射率的同时测量。实验结果表明:传感器透射谱谐振峰波谷的中心波长随温度变化、折射率变化均有很好的线性关系,最大温度灵敏度达到33.63 pm/℃,最大折射率灵敏度为-135 nm/RIU。该传感器尺寸小、集成度高、结构简单、制作容易、灵敏度高,在工业、民用、日常生活等方面有一定的应用价值。

IONIC SELF-ASSEMBLY AND HUMIDITY SENSITIVITY OF POLYELECTROLYTE MULTILAYERS

Multilayer thin films of alternately adsorbed layers of polyelectrolytes PDDA and PS-119 were formed on both planar silica substrates and optical fibers through the ionic self-assembly technique. Intrinsic Fabry-Perot cavities were fabricated by stepwise assembling the polyelectrolytes onto the ends of optical fibers for the purposes of fiber optical device and sensor development. Ionically assembled polyelectrolyte multilayer thin films, in which. there are hydrophilic side groups with strong affinity towards water molecules, are a category of humidity-sensitive functional materials. The polyelectrolyte multilayer thin film Fabry-Perot cavity-type fiber optical humidity sensor can work over a wide range from about 0% RH to about 100% RH with a response time less than 1 s.

A Probe-Shaped Sensor With FBG and Fiber-Tip Bubble for Pressure and Temperature Sensing

A probe-shaped sensor for simultaneous temperature and pressure measurement was reported in this article.The effective length of the sensor was〜2 mm,consisting of a fiber Bragg grating(FBG)and a Fabry-Perot interferometer(FPI)with a nano silica diaphragm.The response sensitivities of the sensor for pressure and temperature were measured as-0.98 nm/MPa and 11.10pm/℃,respectively.This sensor had an extremely low cross-sensitivity between pressure and temperature,which provided a significant potential in dual-parameter sensing.

基于游标效应增敏的全光纤液体折射率传感器

为了实现液体折射率的高灵敏度测量,提出并制备了一种基于游标效应增敏的全光纤液体折射率传感器.该传感器由法布里-珀罗传感腔和法布里-珀罗参考腔并联构成,其中,传感腔为开放腔,由单模光纤错位熔接制得,参考腔为封闭腔,由单模光纤与空芯光纤熔接制得.传感腔和参考腔的自由光谱范围相近,但不相等,双腔反射光经光纤耦合器后叠加产生游标效应,达到增敏的效果.实验结果表明,该传感器的折射率灵敏度约为9048.78 nm/RIU,约是单个传感腔的8倍.该传感器具有灵敏度高、结构简单、易于制备、成本低廉的优点,在生物医疗、环境检测等领域有潜在的应用前景.

基于多模与熊猫光纤耦合的温度与应变特性研究

该文基于多模与熊猫光纤耦合设计了一款新型马赫-曾德尔干涉仪传感器,该传感器对温度和轴向应变均较灵敏,在温度或应变变化时,传感器透射谱谐振峰波长发生线性漂移,通过考察谐振峰波长偏移量来感知应变与环境温度。实验结果表明,测得最大温度灵敏度为65.45 pm/℃,最大应变灵敏度为-1.9 pm/με。利用传感器透射谱谐振峰两个波谷的温度和应变灵敏度构建测量矩阵,实现了温度与应变的同时测量,消除了交叉敏感。

弯曲与应变同时测量的光纤传感器

设计了一种高灵敏的弯曲传感器,该传感器利用掺铒光纤(EDF)与单模光纤(SMF)错位熔接制作,其中传感元件为EDF。实验结果表明:在曲率变化时传感器透射谱波谷的中心波长发生线性漂移,利用中心波长的变化能够解调出曲率大小,实现曲率测量。实验测得最大弯曲灵敏度为-10.75 nm/m^(-1)。传感器向不同方向弯曲时,测得曲率灵敏度大小与变化趋势基本一致,无法判断弯曲方向。传感器对轴向应变也有一定的敏感度,选择传感器透射谱两个波谷对应的弯曲与轴向应变灵敏度构建测量矩阵,实现了双参量同时测量,消除了交叉敏感。该传感器结构比较简单、成本低、灵敏度较高,在工业建筑、航空航天和大型工程健康监测等领域有一定的应用前景。