Showing papers in "Photonic Sensors in 2013"

Review of Femtosecond Laser Fabricated Fiber Bragg Gratings for High Temperature Sensing

Abstract: This paper reviews high temperature sensing applications based on fiber Bragg gratings fabricated by use of femtosecond laser. Type II fiber Bragg gratings fabricated in the silica fiber can sustain up to 1200 °C while that fabricated in the sapphire fiber have the good thermal stability up to 1745 °C.

Structural health monitoring by using fiber-optic distributed strain sensors with high spatial resolution

Abstract: In this paper, we review our researches on the topics of the structural health monitoring (SHM) with the fiber-optic distributed strain sensor. Highly-dense information on strains in a structure can be useful to identify some kind of existing damages or applied loads in implementation of SHM. The fiber-optic distributed sensors developed by the authors have been applied to the damage detection of a single-lap joint and load identification of a beam simply supported. We confirmed that the applicability of the distributed sensor to SHM could be improved as making the spatial resolution higher. In addition, we showed that the simulation technique considering both structural and optical effects seamlessly in strain measurement could be powerful tools to evaluate the performance of a sensing system and design it for SHM. Finally, the technique for simultaneous distributed strain and temperature measurement using the PANDA-fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is shown in this paper, because problems caused by the cross-sensitivity toward strain and temperature would be always inevitable in strain measurement for SHM.

Numerical Investigation of a Refractive Index SPR D-Type Optical Fiber Sensor Using COMSOL Multiphysics

Abstract: Recently, many programs have been developed for simulation or analysis of the different parameters of light propagation in optical fibers, either for sensing or for communication purposes. In this paper, it is shown the COMSOL Multiphysics as a fairly robust and simple program, due to the existence of a graphical environment, to perform simulations with good accuracy. Results are compared with other simulation analysis, focusing on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena for refractive index sensing in a D-type optical fiber, where the characteristics of the material layers, in terms of the type and thickness, and the residual fiber cladding thickness are optimized.

Recent advancement in optical fiber sensing for aerospace composite structures

Abstract: Optical fiber sensors have attracted considerable attention in health monitoring of aerospace composite structures. This paper briefly reviews our recent advancement mainly in Brillouin-based distributed sensing. Damage detection, life cycle monitoring and shape reconstruction systems applicable to large-scale composite structures are presented, and new technical concepts, "smart crack arrester" and "hierarchical sensing system", are described as well, highlighting the great potential of optical fiber sensors for the structural health monitoring (SHM) field.

Design and optimization of index-guiding photonic crystal fiber gas sensor

Abstract: An index guiding photonic crystal fiber used in gas sensing applications is presented. The dependency of the confinement loss and relative sensitivity on the fiber parameters and wavelength is numerically investigated by using the full-vectorial finite element method (FEM). The simulations showed that the gas sensing sensitivity increased with an increase in the core diameter and a decrease in the distance between centers of two adjacent holes. Increasing the hole size of two outer cladding rings, this structure simultaneously showed up to 10% improved sensitivity, and the confinement loss reached 6×10 -4 times less than that of the prior sensor at the wavelength of 1.5 μm. This proved the

Four-channel label-free photonic crystal biosensor using nanocavity resonators

Abstract: In this paper, we design and characterize a novel small size four-channel biosensor based on the two-dimensional photonic crystal with introducing waveguides and nano-cavities in the hexagonal lattice of air pores in the silicon slab. By removing a group of air pores, waveguides are achieved, and nano-cavities are shaped by modifying the radius of air pores. Highly parallel operation of this biosensor due to the special architecture is the capability of the designed structure. The biomaterials which are suspended in a liquid medium inside nano-cavities cause effective refractive index changes which lead to the resonant wavelength shift in the output terminal. According to results, with increasing the refractive index of nano-cavities, resonant wavelengths shifts to longer values. For biochemical sensing like DNA molecule and protein and for the refractive index detection, this novel designed biosensor can be utilized.

Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of an Optical Current Sensor for High Power Systems

Abstract: A magneto-optical sensor, using a dual quadrature polarimetric processing scheme, was evaluated for current metering and protection applications in high voltage lines. Sensor calibration and resolution were obtained in different operational conditions using illumination in the 1550-nm band. Results obtained indicated the feasibility of interrogating such sensor via the optical ground wire (OPGW) link installed in standard high power grids. The polarimetric bulk optical current sensor also was theoretically studied, and the effects of different sources of error considering practical deployment were evaluated. In particular, the interference from external magnetic fields in a tree-phase system was analyzed.

Fiber-Optic Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor With Multi-Alternating Metal Layers for Biological Measurement

Abstract: Optical fiber based SPR sensors have attracted more and more attention due to their unique advantages over the prism-based SPR sensors. A novel fiber-optic SPR sensor with multi-alternating metal layers for biochemical analysis is presented in this paper. Based on the fundamental SPR theory of the fiber optic sensing technology, we theoretically investigated the effects of the existence of alternating layers deposited on sensing region SPR wavelength changes. The emphasis was placed on the numerical simulation of the fiber-optic SPR sensor’s sensitivity which could be affected by its technical parameters such as the metal thickness, number of alternating layers. Results showed that, compared to the normal SPR sensor with the single metal layer, the proposed sensor had a wider detecting range of the refractive index and higher sensitivity, which can find applications in biological analysis.

Continuous monitoring of mining induced strain in a road pavement using fiber Bragg grating sensors

Abstract: This paper describes the application of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based sensors for monitoring road pavement strains caused by mining induced ground subsidence as a result of underground longwall coal mining beneath a major highway in New South Wales, Australia. After a lengthy planning period, the risks to the highway pavement were successfully managed by the highway authority and the mining company through a technical committee. The technical committee comprised representatives of the mining company, the highway authority and specialists in the fields of pavement engineering, geotechnical engineering and subsidence. An important component of the management strategy is the installation of a total of 840 strain and temperature sensors in the highway pavement using FBG arrays encapsulated in glass-fiber composite cables. The sensors and associated demodulation equipment provide continuous strain measurements along the pavement, enabling on-going monitoring of the effects of mining subsidence on the pavement and timely implementation of planned mitigation and response measures to ensure the safety and serviceability of the highway throughout the mining period.

Advances and new applications using the acousto-optic effect in optical fibers

Abstract: This work presents a short review of the current research on the acousto-optic mechanism applied to optical fibers. The role of the piezoelectric element and the acousto-optic modulator in the excitation of flexural and longitudinal acoustic modes in the frequency range up to 1.2 MHz is highlighted. A combination of the finite elements and the transfer matrix methods is used to simulate the interaction of the waves with Bragg and long period gratings. Results show a very good agreement with experimental data. Recent applications such as the writing of gratings under the acoustic excitation and a novel viscometer sensor based on the acousto-optic mechanism are discussed.

Wavelength dispersion analysis on fiber-optic Raman distributed temperature sensor system

Abstract: The influence of the wavelength dispersion on the temperature accuracy of the Raman distributed temperature sensor system (RDTS) is analyzed in detail, and a simple correction algorithm is proposed to compensate the fiber position error caused by the wavelength dispersion. The principle of the proposed algorithm is described theoretically, and the correction on each point along the entire fiber is realized. Temperature simulation results validate that the temperature distortion is corrected and the temperature accuracy is effectively improved from ±5 °C to ±1 °C.

Microwave transmission through one-dimensional hybrid quasi-regular (fibonacci and Thue-Morse)/periodic structures

Abstract: The transmission properties of hybrid quasi-periodic photonic systems (HQPS) made by the combination of one-dimensional periodic photonic crystals (PPCs) and quasi-periodic photonic crystals (QPCs) were theoretically studied. The hybrid quasi-periodic photonic lattice based on the hetero-structures was built from the Fibonacci and Thue-Morse sequences. We addressed the microwave properties of waves through the one-dimensional symmetric Fibonacci, and Thue-Morse system i.e., a quasi-periodic structure was made up of two different dielectric materials (Rogers and air), in the quarter wavelength condition. It shows that controlling the Fibonacci parameters permits to obtain selective optical filters with the narrow passband and polychromatic stop band filters with varied properties which can be controlled as desired. From the results, we presented the self-similar features of the spectra, and we also presented the fractal process through a return map of the transmission coefficients. We extracted powerfully the band gaps of hybrid quasi-periodic multilayered structures, called "pseudo band gaps", often containing resonant states, which could be considered as a manifestation of numerous defects distributed along the structure. The results of transmittance spectra showed that the cutoff frequency could be manipulated through the thicknesses of the defects and the type of dielectric layers of the system. Taken together, the above two properties provide favorable conditions for the design of an all-microwave intermediate reflector.

Hydrogen detection with FBG sensor technology for disaster prevention

Abstract: Three fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors systems for hydrogen detection are presented using the classic Pd (palladium) coating technique (500 nm) as the hydrogen sensitive film and titanium (Ti) as the adhesive layer with the etched cladding. These systems are compared and used for disaster environment prevention in hydrogen leakage environment where higher values than the normal are presented which increase the risk of explosion. With these systems, 0.1%–4% of the hydrogen volume concentration range in the volume ratio was detected and monitored experimentally in the test room with the very sensitive and stable value which reached 60 pm/1% H2. In addition, a fast response time, about 6 s, was obtained with an advanced sensor.

Ultrahigh resolution fiber-optic quasi-static strain sensors for geophysical research

Abstract: A review of our recent work on ultrahigh resolution optical fiber sensors in the quasi-static region is presented, and their applications in crustal deformation measurement are introduced. Geophysical research such as studies on earthquake and volcano requires monitoring the earth’s crustal deformation continuously with a strain resolution on the order of nano-strains (nɛ) in static to low frequency region. Optical fiber sensors are very attractive due to their unique advantages such as low cost, small size, and easy deployment. However, the resolution of conventional optical fiber strain sensors is far from satisfactory in the quasi-static domain. In this paper, several types of recently developed fiber-optic sensors with ultrahigh resolution in the quasi-static domain are introduced, including a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor interrogated with a narrow linewidth tunable laser, an FBG based fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer (FFPI) sensor by using a phase modulation technique, and an FFPI sensor with a sideband interrogation technique. Quantificational analyses and field experimental results demonstrated that the FBG sensor can provide nano-order strain resolution. The sub-nano strain resolution was also achieved by the FFPI sensors in laboratory. Above achievements provide the basis to develop powerful fiber-optic tools for geophysical research on crustal deformation monitoring.

Recent research and development of optical fiber monitoring in communication systems

Abstract: Recent progress on optical fiber monitoring in the optical communication systems is reviewed along with current optical fiber monitoring and diagnosing problems in deployed access, trunk and submarine communication systems.

SMS fiber structure for temperature measurement using an OTDR

Abstract: A singlemode-multimode-singlemode (SMS) fiber structure for temperature measurement using an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR)-based interrogation system is proposed. A temperature measurement range of 40 °C–195 °C with a resolution of 0.12 °C and a linearity of 0.992 could be achieved for the multimode fiber (MMF) graded index with a length of 60 mm. It was also demonstrated that two-point temperature measurement with two SMS fiber structures as temperature sensors could be made. The proposed temperature measurement system offered a high resolution and also benefited from a simple configuration with a capability of multi-point temperature measurement.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Based Sensing of Different Chemical and Biological Samples Using Admittance Loci Method

Abstract: The admittance loci method plays an important role in the design of multilayer thin film structures. In this paper, admittance loci method has been explored theoretically for sensing of various chemical and biological samples based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon. A dielectric multilayer structure consisting of a Boro silicate glass (BSG) substrate, calcium fluoride (CaF2) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) along with different dielectric layers has been investigated. Moreover, admittance loci as well as SPR curves of metal-dielectric multilayer structure consisting of the BSG prism, gold metal film and various dielectric samples have been simulated in MATLAB environment. To validate the proposed simulation results, calibration curves have also been provided.

Fiber laser sensor based on a phase-shifted chirped grating for acoustic sensing of partial discharges

Abstract: Acoustic emission monitoring is often used in the diagnosis of electrical and mechanical incipient faults in the high voltage apparatus. Partial discharges are a major source of insulation failure in electric power transformers, and the differentiation from other sources of acoustic emission is of the utmost importance. This paper reports the development of a new sensor concept — a fiber laser sensor based on a phase-shifted chirped fiber grating — for the acoustic emission detection of incipient faults in oil-filled power transformers. These sensors can be placed in the inner surface of the transformer tank wall, not affecting the insulation integrity of the structure and improving fault detection and location. The performance of the sensing head is characterized and compared for different surrounding media: air, water, and oil. The results obtained indicate the feasibility of this sensing approach for the industrial development of practical solutions.

Tilted fiber Bragg grating in graded-index multimode fiber and its sensing characteristics

Abstract: Tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) and reflective tilted fiber Bragg grating (R-TFBG) were proposed and demonstrated in the graded-index multimode fiber (GI-MMF). The TFBGs with grating planes tilted at an angle of 2.5° corresponding to the fiber axis were inscribed. The TFBGs in the GI-MMF had the good linear sensitivity to the temperature, strain and curvature. The fiber was then cleaved at the far end of the TFBG to form an R-TFBG using the Fresnel reflection of the fiber end. The reflective spectra of the R-TFBG were given, and the temperature sensing properties were also investigated.

Fiber Bragg grating strain sensors for marine engineering

Abstract: For the health monitoring of the offshore drilling platform in the salt-fog environment, three nonmetallic materials, i.e., silica, FR-4 epoxy board and sheet molding compound (SMC), with the good anti-corrosion ability were chosen as the packaging materials for the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors. By selecting a highly sensitive structure of the fiber Bragg grating strain sensor, the performances of the sensors with three materials were investigated both numerically and experimentally. The strain sensitivities were 3.76 pm/μɛ, 3.02 pm/μɛ and 3.03 pm/μɛ, respectively. The linearity was better than 0.998. It provides useful information for developing sensors for the marine engineering.

Wide and fast wavelength-swept fiber lasers based on dispersion tuning and their application to optical coherence tomography

Abstract: We recently proposed a new class of wavelength-swept lasers for swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). It uses the same gain medium with the conventional swept lasers, but does not require any tunable filters. It is based on a principle called “dispersion tuning”, in which a highly dispersive medium is inserted in the laser cavity, and loss/gain modulation is applied to mode-lock the laser. Since the cavity contains no mechanical components, such as tunable filters, we could achieve the very high sweep rate. In this review paper, we describe the principle of the dispersion-tuned swept lasers in detail and present our recent work on the application to the SS-OCT system.

Fabrication of tailored Bragg gratings by the phase mask dithering/moving technique

Abstract: The most relevant aspects related to the phase mask dithering/moving method for the fabrication of complex Bragg grating designs are reviewed. Details for experimental implementation of this technique is presented, including theoretical analysis of the calibration functions for the correct dither/displacement. Results from tailored Bragg grating structures fabricated by this method are shown. Apodized Bragg gratings with modeled spatial profiles were implemented, resulting in side mode suppression levels of more than 20 dB in gratings showing transmission filtering level higher than 30 dB. Chirped gratings with the spectral bandwidth up to 4 nm, π-shift and sampled Bragg gratings with equalized peaks equally spaced by 0.8 nm (100 GHz) were also fabricated.

Performance improvements in Raman distributed temperature sensor

Abstract: The fiber optic distributed temperature sensor (DTS) is one of the most outstanding means to measure temperature distribution along an optical fiber. In this paper, we propose a novel calibration technique to measure the temperature highly accurately over a wide range of temperatures. We also propose an improved double-ended configuration that is insusceptible to the differential loss change in the fiber and suitable for the field use. Then, we developed an interrogator that had high robustness in harsh environments.

Modeling refractive index change in writing long-period fiber gratings using mid-infrared laser radiation

Abstract: The research on the use of fiber sensors based on long-period fiber gratings inscribed by CO2 laser mid-infrared radiation has increased in the last years. In this paper, a set of analytical expressions are used to model the interaction between laser radiation and an optical fiber and to determine the resulting refractive index change. Thermal and residual stress analysis is exemplified for a standard single mode fiber, demonstrating the capability of these models to point out the necessary parameters to achieve proper optical fiber devices based on long period fiber gratings. Experimental results are also presented.

Long Period Fiber Gratings Written in Photonic Crystal Fibers by Use of CO 2 Laser

Abstract: Photonic crystal fibers are usually divided into two different types of fibers: solid-core photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) and air-core photonic bandgaps fibers (PBFs). We presented the fabrication methods and applications of long period fiber gratings (LPFGs) written in these two types of photonic crystal fibers by use of a CO2 laser. A stain sensor with a high sensitivity was demonstrated by use of an LPFG written in solid-core PCFs. An in-fiber polarizer based on an LPFG was fabricated by use of a focused CO2 laser beam to notch periodically on a PCF. A novel LPFG was written in an air-core PBF by use of a CO2 laser to collapse periodically air holes in the fiber cladding.

Strain Sensitivity Enhancement in Suspended Core Fiber Tapers

Abstract: Suspended core fiber tapers with different cross sections (with diameters from 70 μm to 120 μm) are produced by filament heating. Before obtaining the taper, the spectral behavior of the suspended core fiber is a multimode interference structure. When the taper is made, an intermodal interference between a few modes is observed. This effect is clearly visible for low taper core dimensions. Since the core and cladding do not collapse, two taper regions exist, one in the core and the other in the cladding. The cladding taper does not affect the light transmission, only the core is reduced to a microtaper. The spectral response of the microtaper based-suspended core fiber is similar to a beat of two interferometers. The strain is applied to the microtaper, and with the reduction in the transverse area, an increase in sensitivity is observed. When the taper is immersed in a liquid with a different index of refraction or subjected to temperature variations, no spectral change occurs.

Specialized Optical Fiber Sensor for Nondestructive Intrinsic Quality Measurement of Averrhoa Carambola

Abstract: This paper presents an innovative and low-cost approach for nondestructive fruit quality analysis. The specialized optical fiber sensor developed and presented in this paper used a monochromatic wavelength, rather than a broad spectrum, to measure the intact carambola (star fruit) intrinsic quality, namely pH and firmness. The main objective of this research was to investigate the two optical fiber sensors used in this work, namely, the optical fiber red system (OF-RS) that operated with the peak sensitivity at 635 nm and the optical fiber near the infrared spectroscopy system (OF-NIRS) that operated with the peak sensitivity at 880 nm. Both systems showed good accuracy in the pH and firmness measurement of the intact carambola with the correlation coefficient R over 0.75, and the measurement results were comparable with those of the commercial spectrometer. The best measurement results were obtained using OF-RS (pH: R = 0.876; the root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.211 pH; firmness: R = 0.872; RMSE = 0.909 kgf).

Computational models for new fiber optic tweezers

Abstract: This paper discusses the calculation of the trapping forces in optical tweezers using a combination of the finite differences time domain (FDTD) method and the Lorentz force on electric dipoles. The results of 2D simulations of the trapping of a circular particle by a waveguide with a circular tip are presented and discussed.

Design of an Optical Water Pollution Sensor Using a Single-Layer Guided-Mode Resonance Filter

Abstract: The optical characteristics of a simple, planar, single layer, dielectric Mg-based guided mode resonance filter (GMRF) were investigated by means of rigorous-coupled wave analysis (RCWA). This filter has great potential for real-life applications, especially as bio- and environmental sensors. The structure of the proposed sensor is compact, and all of its layers can be grown in a single process. In this paper, we present results on the design of a water pollution sensor in the violet region of the visible spectrum. The spectral and angular sensitivities of the sensor for both the transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarization modes were estimated and compared for various regions in the violet spectrum. A spectral response characterized with a narrow bandwidth and low reflection side bands was realized by carrying out extensive parameter search and optimization. Optimal spectral and angular sensitivities were found for the sensor with a grating thickness of 100 nm in the TM polarized mode where we found them to be 100 nm and 40 degrees, per index refraction unit, respectively.

Analog processing based vibration measurement technique using michelson interferometer

Abstract: A Michelson interferometer based sensor, to monitor the displacement and vibration of a surface, is presented. The interference signals detected in quadrature are processed using analog electronics to find the direction of the motion of a vibrating surface in real-time. The complete instrumentation and signal processing are implemented for the interpretation of the amplitude as well as positive and negative excursion of the vibration cycles. This new technique is simpler as compared to the techniques commonly used in the interferometer based vibration sensors. Using this technique, we have measured mechanical vibrations having a magnitude of the order of nanometers and frequency in the range of 50 Hz to 500 Hz. By making small changes in the electronic circuit, the technique can be implemented for the extended range of the vibration frequencies and amplitude.