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Ultrasensitive vector bending sensor based on multicore optical fiber.
Optics Letters
|February 13, 2016
Summary
We developed a simple directional bending sensor using multicore optical fibers (MCF). This fiber optic sensor exhibits high sensitivity to small bending angles and can distinguish multiple bending orientations.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Sensing
- Fiber Optic Sensors
- Material Science
Background:
- Multicore optical fibers (MCF) offer unique light propagation properties.
- Existing bending sensors often lack directional sensitivity or high resolution.
- Supermode interference in MCFs is sensitive to external perturbations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel, simple directional bending sensor.
- To leverage MCF supermodes for enhanced bending sensitivity.
- To achieve high-resolution detection of bending angle and orientation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a sensor by fusion splicing a short segment of three-core MCF to a standard single-mode fiber.
- Operation in reflection mode, analyzing the reflected spectrum.
- Utilizing the asymmetry of the MCF and supermode sensitivity to bending.
Main Results:
- Achieved a high sensitivity of 4094 pm/deg for small bending angles.
- Demonstrated the sensor's capability to detect directional bending.
- Observed drastic changes in supermodes and reflected spectrum due to bending.
Conclusions:
- The developed MCF sensor is a compellingly simple and highly sensitive device for directional bending detection.
- The sensor's performance is attributed to the unique properties of MCF supermodes.
- This technology holds promise for advanced fiber optic sensing applications.
