Strain and temperature sensitivity of a single-mode polymer optical fiber

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Optical fibers are crucial for sensing applications.
• Polymer-based optical fibers offer unique properties compared to silica.
• Understanding their sensitivity is key for developing advanced sensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure the optical phase sensitivity of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) fiber.
• To compare the sensitivity of PMMA fiber with silica fiber.
• To validate measurements against bulk polymer properties.

Main Methods:

• Experiments were conducted using a 632.8 nm wavelength laser.
• Near-single-mode conditions were maintained for the PMMA fiber.
• Optical phase shifts were measured under controlled elongation and temperature variations.

Main Results:

• The measured elongation sensitivity of the PMMA fiber was 131 ± 3 x 10^5 rad m⁻¹.
• The measured temperature sensitivity was -212 ± 26 rad m⁻¹ K⁻¹.
• These sensitivities are higher than those reported for silica fiber.

Conclusions:

• PMMA-based optical fibers exhibit significant optical phase sensitivity.
• The experimental results are consistent with theoretical predictions based on bulk polymer properties.
• PMMA fibers present a viable alternative to silica fibers for specific optical sensing applications.