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Updated: May 11, 2026
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Fiber Optic Distributed Sensors for High-resolution Temperature Field Mapping
Published on: November 7, 2016
High-resolution fiber optic temperature sensors using nonlinear spectral curve fitting technique
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|May 3, 2013
Summary
A new data processing method accurately calculates optical path differences in Fabry-Perot cavities. This technique enables high-resolution fiber optic temperature sensing across a wide temperature range.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Sensor Technology
- Data Processing
Background:
- Fabry-Perot cavities are crucial optical components.
- Accurate measurement of optical path difference (OPD) is essential for sensor applications.
- Existing methods for OPD calculation can be limited in accuracy or dynamic range.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a generic and accurate data processing method for calculating the absolute OPD of low-finesse Fabry-Perot cavities.
- To demonstrate the method's effectiveness in high-performance fiber optic temperature sensors.
Main Methods:
- Combines Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) with nonlinear curve fitting of the entire spectrum.
- Utilizes modular LabVIEW functions for efficient algorithm implementation.
- Applies the method to broadband interference fringes from a Fabry-Perot cavity.
Main Results:
- Achieved high-resolution temperature sensing (0.01 °C).
- Demonstrated a large dynamic range (room temperature to 800 °C).
- Successfully calculated absolute OPD from interference fringes.
Conclusions:
- The developed data processing method is accurate and versatile for low-finesse Fabry-Perot cavities.
- The technique enables high-performance fiber optic temperature sensors with excellent resolution and dynamic range.
- The method's performance is primarily limited by the sensor's material properties (e.g., silica fiber).
