Two-dimensional vector bending sensor based on Fabry-Pérot cavities in a multicore fiber

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics and Photonics
• Fiber Optic Sensors
• Materials Science

Background:

• Traditional curvature sensors often suffer from temperature sensitivity and complex fabrication.
• Multicore fibers (MCF) offer potential for advanced sensing applications.
• Fabry-Pérot interferometers (FPI) are versatile optical sensing elements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a temperature-insensitive, two-dimensional curvature sensor.
• To utilize a resin-based Fabry-Pérot interferometer within a multicore fiber.
• To achieve high sensitivity and accurate curvature measurement.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a resin-based Fabry-Pérot interferometer within an MCF.
• Characterization of the sensor's response to curvature.
• Numerical modeling to understand sensor behavior and optimize geometry.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of a temperature-insensitive FPI-based curvature sensor.
• Achieved high sensitivity (>400 pm/m^-1), significantly exceeding existing technologies.
• Demonstrated accurate curvature reconstruction with errors below 4%.

Conclusions:

• The developed MCF-based FPI sensor offers a simple and attractive solution for 2D curvature sensing.
• The sensor exhibits superior sensitivity and temperature insensitivity compared to conventional methods.
• Numerical analysis provides valuable insights for further sensor design and application expansion.