Sensing characteristics of the F-P cavity on the tip of a microstructured fiber

Abstract

A Fabry-Pérot interferometer on the tip of a microstructured fiber and its sensing application was demonstrated. The microstructured side hole eccentric core fiber was fabricated using the drilling hole method. The fiber end face was polished to 45° which could reflect the light transverse to the fiber, utilizing the side wall of the air hole as the reflection surface. Sensing abilities of the interferometer were investigated in the experiment. It can work as a probe for liquid RI sensing by simply plunging the fiber tip into the solution being tested, in addition, it can become sensors for different parameters by filling functional materials into the air hole. An example of filling UV curable adhesive into the fiber to be a temperature sensor was demonstrated in the experiment. The sensing structure on the fiber tip shows the advantages of high linearity, easy fabrication and good reproducibility, as a sensor it is also convenient to operate.