High-performance temperature sensing using a selectively filled solid-core photonic crystal fiber with a central...

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Fiber Optics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) offer unique light-guiding properties for sensor applications.
• Mode-coupling in PCFs is a key principle for developing sensitive optical sensors.
• Existing temperature sensors often face limitations in sensitivity, resolution, or operating range.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and analyze a high-performance temperature sensor based on a selectively filled PCF.
• To investigate the effect of a central air-bore on mode-coupling efficiency for temperature sensing.
• To demonstrate a novel sensing architecture using temperature-sensitive liquids within the PCF.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a solid-core PCF with a central air-bore using the "stack-and-draw" method.
• Numerical analysis employing the finite element method to simulate sensor performance.
• Verification of selective hole-filling using a multi-step infiltration technique.

Main Results:

• The central air-bore significantly enhances mode-coupling efficiency.
• The proposed fiber-based temperature sensor exhibits high sensitivity (-6.02 nm/°C).
• The sensor demonstrates a high resolution (3.32 × 10^-3 °C) over a broad temperature range (-80 to 90 °C).

Conclusions:

• The selectively filled PCF with a central air-bore is a promising platform for high-performance temperature sensing.
• The developed sensing architecture offers improved sensitivity and resolution for optical temperature measurements.
• A specially designed probe further enhances the system's sensitivity and manipulation capabilities.