In-line fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer with high-reflectance internal mirrors

Abstract

Operation of fiber Fabry-Perot interferoineter (FFPI) temperature sensors from -200°C to +10500C has been demonstrated [1]. These sensors used internal mirrors produced by a fusion splicing technique. Internal-mirror FFPIs have been embedded in graphite-epoxy composites and polymers, where they were used to sense temperature [2] and ultrasonic pressure [3]. Previous work on internal mirror fiber devices has utilized single-layer dielectric mirrors, with maximum reflectances of less than 10% for the individual reflectors. In this paper, the use of multilayer films to obtain mirror reflectances of greater than 85% in a FFPI is reported, and data for a thermally tuned interferomneter are compared with model calculations. Enhancement of sensor sensitivity through the use of high-finesse interferomneters is discussed, as are potential applications of internal mirror FFPIs in communications.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.