Slab-coupled optical sensor fabrication using side-polished Panda fibers

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Sensor Technology
• Fiber Optics

Background:

• Traditional slab-coupled optical sensor (SCOS) technology for electric field sensing often utilizes D-fiber.
• D-fiber SCOS systems can be complex to fabricate and may have limitations in bandwidth and signal loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a new, simpler, and more efficient electric field sensor using slab-coupled optical sensor (SCOS) technology.
• To replace the D-fiber component in SCOS with a side-polished Panda fiber for improved performance and ease of use.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a novel SCOS device structure utilizing a side-polished Panda fiber instead of D-fiber.
• Characterization of the Panda fiber SCOS for optical loss, bandwidth, and sensitivity.
• Comparison of the Panda fiber SCOS performance against the traditional D-fiber SCOS.

Main Results:

• The Panda fiber SCOS is simpler to fabricate using commercially available materials.
• The Panda SCOS exhibits approximately 3 dB less loss at link points compared to D-fiber SCOS.
• The Panda SCOS achieves a higher overall bandwidth range due to lower loss and reduced transimpedance amplifier (TIA) gain requirements.
• The Panda sensor demonstrates comparable sensitivity to the D-fiber SCOS.

Conclusions:

• The Panda fiber SCOS offers a viable, easier-to-fabricate alternative to D-fiber SCOS for electric field sensing.
• While not the most sensitive sensor available, its ease of fabrication and improved bandwidth make it a practical choice.
• The use of commercially available materials and simpler fabrication processes lowers barriers to adoption.