Up-taper-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer for temperature and strain simultaneous measurement

Area of Science:

• Fiber optics
• Optical sensing
• Interferometry

Background:

• Simultaneous measurement of temperature and strain is crucial in various engineering applications.
• Existing methods often face limitations in accuracy or complexity.
• Fiber optic sensors offer advantages like immunity to electromagnetic interference and remote sensing capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel all-fiber sensing configuration for simultaneous temperature and strain measurements.
• To leverage the distinct responses of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) to environmental changes.
• To achieve high-resolution, real-time monitoring of both parameters.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a sensing configuration comprising two up-tapers and an in-line embedded fiber Bragg grating (FBG) using excessive fusion splicing.
• Utilizing the transmission spectrum of the MZI and FBG for simultaneous data acquisition.
• Analyzing the differential responses of the MZI and FBG to temperature and strain variations.

Main Results:

• The proposed configuration successfully achieved simultaneous measurement of temperature and strain.
• A temperature resolution of 0.311°C was obtained with a 0.01 nm wavelength resolution.
• An average strain resolution of 10.07 με was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• The novel all-fiber sensing configuration based on an up-taper MZI with an embedded FBG is effective for simultaneous temperature and strain monitoring.
• This approach offers a practical solution for applications requiring precise and concurrent measurement of these two parameters.
• The demonstrated resolutions highlight the potential of this sensor for advanced monitoring systems.