Polymer micro-ring resonator integrated with a fiber ring laser for ultrasound detection

Polymer micro-ring resonators fabricated by a direct laser writing technique are presented as sensors for ultrasound detection. The optical micro-ring resonator consists of a micro-ring waveguide that acts as a wavelength selective feedback mirror to an erbium-doped fiber-ring laser (FRL). The micro-ring resonator reflection spectrum determines the lasing frequencies of the FRL. Acoustic waves, which cause strain or deformation of the micro-ring resonator, lead to shifts of the resonance wavelength and thereby shifts in the FRL lasing spectrum. The spectral shifts are demodulated using an unbalanced Michelson interferometer. The experiments demonstrate that polymer micro-ring resonators integrated with a FRL can be used as adaptive high-frequency ultrasound detectors.