The current state of the art of optical fiber sensors is reviewed. The principles of operation are detailed and the various types of fiber sensors are outlined. Achievable performance and limitations are discussed and a description of technology used to fabricate the sensor is presented. The characteristics of acoustic, magnetic, gyro, laser diode, and other sensors are described. Trends in the development of this sensor technology and expected application areas are briefly outlined.

Optical fiber sensor technology

The evolution of optical interferometers into extreme resolution large dynamic range sensors implemented in a guided wave form is discussed. The design and performance of fibre optic interferometric sensors optimised for specific periodic and quasi-steady-state measurands such as rotation, magnetic field, temperature, etc., are described.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0022-3735/18/12/001/pdf

Monomode optical fibre interferometers for precision measurement

Optical Fiber Sensor Technology

In this paper we review the current state of development of fibre optic sensors, including those based on both monomode and multimode technology. For monomode techniques, a general formalism describing their optical characteristics is developed; electronic processing techniques and noise performance are also considered. Examples of their application in the measurement of temperature, pressure, strain, flow, rotation and magnetic field are described. Extrinsic devices such as velocimeters and vibrometers, and applications in holography, are also discussed. Multimode techniques based on intensity and wavelength modulation and quantum effects are considered, and their application to a wide range of measurands is reviewed.

Fibre optic sensors

https://www.osapublishing.org/viewmedia.cfm?uri=CLEO-1987-FA1&seq=0

An optical heterodyne interferometer utilizing a fiber optic target probe and a digital phase compensation system is described. Optical performance and the effect of background motions on output are described. Maximum sensitivity for a simulated biological target in aqueous medium is 0.05 A Hz−1/2 for a signal‐to‐noise ratio of unity.

Anthony E. Barelli

Papers

Fiber optic heterodyne interferometer for vibration measurements in biological systems