High-sensitivity dispersive Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on a dissimilar-doping dual-core fiber for sensing...

Area of Science:

• Optics
• Materials Science
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Mach-Zehnder interferometers are widely used for sensing applications.
• Dual-core fibers offer unique light propagation characteristics.
• Controlling dispersion in interferometer arms is key to enhancing sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel in-line Mach-Zehnder dispersive interferometer using a dual-core fiber.
• To achieve high-sensitivity strain and temperature sensing.
• To investigate the unique sensing behaviors of germanium and phosphorus doped cores.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a dual-core fiber with germanium and phosphorus doped cores.
• Utilizing the two cores as interferometer arms with different dispersion dependencies.
• Applying strain and temperature to the fiber and monitoring spectral shifts.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated high-sensitivity strain sensing with a sensitivity of (0.102±0.002) nm/με.
• Achieved high-sensitivity temperature sensing with a sensitivity of (-4.2±0.2) nm/°C.
• Observed opposite sensitivities for high and low wavelength peaks under strain and temperature variations.

Conclusions:

• The developed dual-core fiber in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer enables highly sensitive strain and temperature measurements.
• The unique opposite wavelength peak sensitivity behavior is demonstrated for the first time in this configuration.
• This technology holds promise for advanced fiber optic sensing applications.