Optical sensor based on two in-series birefringent optical fibers

Abstract

An optical fiber sensor based on the combination of two spliced birefringent optical fiber sections is proposed in this paper. The sensor is built up in a Solc-filter-like configuration and a simple theoretical model based on Jones matrices is employed to predict experimental results. By choosing the suitable birefringent optical fibers (e.g., photonic crystal fibers, birefringent microfibers, elliptical core fibers, PANDA fibers, etc.), the sensor described herein allows for probing of two physical parameters (e.g., refractive index and temperature, hydrostatic pressure and temperature) or sensing the same parameter in two disconnected environments. In order to demonstrate the sensor performance, the system response was evaluated in a temperature-sensing measurement.