Abstract
An optical fiber temperature sensor based on Mach–Zehnder interferometer and thermo-optic effect of the liquid crystal (LC) in fiber ring laser (FRL) system is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The LC is infiltrated into the core of hollow core fiber, and the resonant wavelength is more sensitive to temperature variation due to the interaction between the incident light and the cavity infiltrating liquid crystal with high thermal light coefficient. Meanwhile, the FRL system was further used to make the sensor have good performance in the case of high signal-to-noise ratio (∼35 dB), narrow half-height width (FWHM = 0.15 nm), and high sensitivity in the temperature range from 20 °C to 50 °C, with the maximum sensitivity of 1.318 nm/°C. As far as we know, in the FRL system, the liquid crystal material has a better temperature sensing performance than the previous fiber. Nevertheless, the system has the advantages of good repeatability, low cost, simple production, small volume, high sensitivity. In marine microbial culture and detection, it is necessary to carry out high sensitivity measurement within a small temperature variation range. This reliable and excellent temperature performance has a potential application prospect.
Highlights
In recent years, optical fiber sensors have attracted much attention in aerospace engineering [1], manufacturing industries [2], and biological sensing regions [3]
We propose and experimentally demonstrate a highly sensitivity temperature sensor based on liquid crystal filled hollow core fiber (HCF) in fiber ring laser (FRL) system
The results show that the propagation velocity of light in liquid crystal crystal is ve < v0; the change of temperature field leads to the change of Δn value, resulting is ve < v0; the change of temperature field leads to the change of ∆n value, resulting in the in the deviation of interference peak
Summary
Optical fiber sensors have attracted much attention in aerospace engineering [1], manufacturing industries [2], and biological sensing regions [3]. Wu et al reported a compact MZI based on hollow fiber [19], which is used as a splitter and combiner to form a Mach–Zehnder interferometer for temperature detection. We propose and experimentally demonstrate a highly sensitivity temperature sensor based on liquid crystal filled HCF in FRL system. The liquid crystal and optical fiber used in the device are both economical and efficient These advantages make the device competitive in practical applications such as high sensitivity temperature sensors, high efficiency biomolecule culture, and environmental temperature monitoring
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