Enhanced temperature sensing with in-fiber polymer waveguides

Benjamin L. Ipson; Kevin H. Smith; Richard H. Selfridge; Stephen M. Schultz

doi:10.1117/12.539279

29 July 2004 Enhanced temperature sensing with in-fiber polymer waveguides

Benjamin L. Ipson, Kevin H. Smith, Richard H. Selfridge, Stephen M. Schultz

Proceedings Volume 5391, Smart Structures and Materials 2004: Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.539279
Event: Smart Structures and Materials, 2004, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

This paper presents a technique for enhancing the temperature sensitivity of fiber sensors. The method is based on the peculiar shape and doping characteristics of a reduced cladding index fiber. A portion of the core of the fiber is removed and replaced with a material having a larger change in index with temperature than the core material it replaces. A perturbation of the sensing material results in a change in the polarization of the light at the output of the fiber. This change is detected as a change in intensity through the use of polarizers. A temperature sensitive device is presented as an example of this type of sensing device. Initial experimental results indicate that replacing the core with polymer enhances the temperature sensitivity by at least a factor of 4. The new technique is promising as a means for incorporating a variety of sensing materials into the path of a beam traveling in an optical fiber.

Citation Download Citation

Benjamin L. Ipson, Kevin H. Smith, Richard H. Selfridge, and Stephen M. Schultz "Enhanced temperature sensing with in-fiber polymer waveguides", Proc. SPIE 5391, Smart Structures and Materials 2004: Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems, (29 July 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.539279

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