Study and Optimization of a High-Performance SPR-PCF Temperature Sensor for Low-Temperature Monitoring Applications

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Optical Sensing
• Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate temperature sensing is crucial for low-temperature environments, including cold-chain logistics and scientific research.
• Existing sensors often face limitations in sensitivity and operating range for sub-zero conditions.
• Photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) offer unique light-matter interaction possibilities for sensor development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and optimize a novel surface plasmon resonance photonic crystal fiber (SPR-PCF) sensor for highly sensitive low-temperature detection.
• To investigate the impact of structural parameters on the sensor's performance.
• To evaluate the sensor's suitability for applications requiring precise low-temperature monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) principle integrated into a PCF structure with a central and dual-layer air-hole arrangement.
• Employed the finite element method (FEM) for analyzing resonance behavior and thermal response.
• Optimized key structural parameters, including gold-film thickness and air-hole dimensions, via cumulative parametric scanning.

Main Results:

• The optimized SPR-PCF sensor demonstrated effective temperature sensing within the range of -25 °C to 40 °C.
• Achieved a maximum temperature sensitivity of 36 nm/°C.
• Reported a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 18.57 nm and a figure of merit (FOM) of 1.2923.

Conclusions:

• The designed SPR-PCF sensor exhibits excellent performance for low-temperature sensing applications.
• The sensor's high sensitivity and optimized structure make it a promising candidate for cold-chain monitoring and storage.
• Further development could enhance its applicability in various cryogenic and industrial sensing scenarios.