We report on experimental studies of gas sensing using air-guiding photonic bandgap fibers. The photonic bandgap fibers have at one end been spliced to standard single mode fibers for ease of use and improved stability

/pdf/gas-sensing-using-air-guiding-photonic-bandgap-fibers-3a29fotlnp.pdf

Gas sensing using air-guiding photonic bandgap fibers

We demonstrate evanescent-wave sensing of Cy5-DNA-molecules in an aqueous solution using a photonic crystal fiber. Less than 0.8µL sample volume placed in the holes of the fiber is sufficient for reliable detection.

/pdf/photonic-crystal-fiber-based-evanescent-wave-sensor-for-91gkcqt746.pdf

Photonic crystal fiber based evanescent-wave sensor for detection of biomolecules in aqueous solutions

We demonstrate highly efficient evanescent-wave detection of fluorophore-labeled biomolecules in aqueous solutions positioned in the air holes of the microstructured part of a photonic crystal fiber. The air-suspended silica structures located between three neighboring air holes in the cladding crystal guide light with a large fraction of the optical field penetrating into the sample even at wavelengths in the visible range. An effective interaction length of several centimeters is obtained when a sample volume of less than 1 µL is used.

/pdf/photonic-crystal-fiber-based-evanescent-wave-sensor-for-2dma6vvjlf.pdf

The development of microstructured fibres offers the prospect of improved fibre sensing for low refractive index materials such as liquids and gases. A number of approaches are possible. Here we present a new approach to evanescent field sensing, in which both core and cladding are microstructured. The fibre was fabricated and tested, and simulations and experimental results are shown in the visible region to demonstrate the utility of this approach for sensing.

Microstructured-core optical fibre for evanescent sensing applications.

A simple method for fabricating selective injection microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) using a conventional fusion splicer is described. The effects of fusion current, fusion duration and offset position on the hole collapse property of the MOFs are investigated. With this method, the central hollow-core and the holes in the cladding region can be selectively infiltrated, which allows for the fabrication of novel hybrid polymer-silica and liquid-silica MOFs for various applications.

/pdf/fabrication-of-selective-injection-microstructured-optical-uy20i4s8dd.pdf

Fabrication of selective injection microstructured optical fibers with a conventional fusion splicer

We report the modeling results of an all-fiber gas detector that uses photonic crystal fiber (PCF). The relative sensitivity of the PCF as a function of the fiber parameters is calculated. Gas-diffusion dynamics that affect the sensor response time is investigated theoretically and experimentally. A practical PCF sensor aiming for high sensitivity gas detection is proposed.

/pdf/design-and-modeling-of-a-photonic-crystal-fiber-gas-sensor-1ddlyx26px.pdf

Shuang C. Ruan

Papers

Design and modeling of a photonic crystal fiber gas sensor