Control of evanescent field using a dynamic waveguide composed of gelatin-coated few-layer fiber

We report here the results of our studies on dynamic refractive-index (RI) profile few-layer fibers in view of controlling the mode-field profile, in particular the evanescent tails under varying structural configuration. We experimentally fabricate dynamic RI profile few-layer fibers using thin gelatin coating on selectively etched fibers and illustrate how the excitation of various modes and the evanescent field at the interface can be controlled with changing humidity parameter. As a technology outcome of this research, we demonstrate through an optimized structural configuration a well performing fiber-optic high (70%-98%) relative humidity (RH) sensor with sensitivity as high as -1.07  dBm/%RH.