Self-repairing polymer optical fiber sensor

Abstract

This article presents experimental demonstrations of a self-writing waveguide in a photopolymerizable resin system. The waveguide will be embedded in a structure and serve as a self-repairing strain sensor. The sensor would fabricate via lightwaves in the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range and operate as a sensor in the infrared (IR) wavelength range. Optimized self-written waveguides are obtained by varying the input UV laser power and testing the repeatability of the waveguide fabrication between two optical fibers. An IR laser output is then transmitted between two MM fibers during the fabrication process to quantify the response of the self-repaired optical sensor by measuring the transmitted IR power. The IR power is successfully transmitted through a self-written waveguide; however problems with optical fiber alignment and bending of the waveguide can induce loss of IR transmission.