Highly sensitive strain, magnetic field, and temperature sensor using PDMS and a Fabry-Perot interferometer

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Sensor Technology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Fiber optic sensors offer non-intrusive and remote sensing capabilities.
• Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPI) are known for their high sensitivity in optical measurements.
• Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a versatile polymer with tunable optical and mechanical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a high-sensitivity fiber optic sensor based on an FPI.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance for strain, magnetic field, and temperature measurements.
• To demonstrate the sensor's suitability for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an FPI sensor using PDMS and a capillary.
• Integration of the FPI with Terfenol-D for magnetic field sensing.
• Experimental characterization of the sensor's response to strain, magnetic fields (intensity and direction), and temperature.

Main Results:

• The FPI sensor achieved high sensitivity for strain (∼ 0.221 nm/µε) and magnetic field (∼ 1.84 nm/mT) with excellent linearity.
• The sensor demonstrated reliable performance in measuring magnetic field direction and temperature (∼ 1.82 nm/°C).
• Experimental results showed high repeatability and reliability.

Conclusions:

• The developed FPI sensor offers a cost-effective, high-sensitivity, and versatile solution for physical quantity monitoring.
• The sensor's performance makes it suitable for applications in power equipment, medical devices, and robotics.
• The study highlights the potential of PDMS-based FPI sensors in advanced sensing technologies.