A highly sensitive fiber optic sensor based on two-core fiber for refractive index measurement

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Chemical Sensing
• Materials Science

Background:

• Refractive index (RI) is a crucial parameter for characterizing liquids.
• Accurate RI measurement is vital for applications like quality control and chemical analysis.
• Existing methods may lack sensitivity, compactness, or real-time monitoring capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a simple and compact fiber optic sensor for high-performance refractive index measurements.
• To showcase the sensor's suitability for high-sensitivity sensing in diverse applications.
• To validate the sensor's capability in determining liquid composition, such as salinity and alcohol content.

Main Methods:

• Development of a fiber optic sensor utilizing a two-core fiber configuration.
• Experimental measurement of refractive indices for binary liquid mixtures.
• Analysis of sensor sensitivity across a specific refractive index range.

Main Results:

• The fiber optic sensor demonstrated high-performance refractive index measurements.
• The sensor achieved a maximum experimental sensitivity of 3,119 nm/RIU for RI range 1.3160-1.3943.
• Results indicate potential for enhanced sensitivity up to approximately 3485.67 nm/RIU.

Conclusions:

• The proposed two-core fiber optic sensor is effective for high-sensitivity refractive index measurements.
• The sensor's performance is suitable for applications like determining salt water salinity and detecting adulteration in alcoholic beverages.
• Further optimization could lead to enhanced sensitivity for even more precise liquid analysis.