Sensitivity enhanced temperature sensor with serial tapered two-mode fibers based on the Vernier effect

Enhanced sensitivity of temperature and magnetic field sensor based on FPIs with Vernier effect

A kind of temperature and magnetic field sensor using Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPIs) and Vernier effect to enhance sensitivity is proposed. The sensor structure involves filling the FP air cavities with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and magnetic fluid (MF) to create the PDMS and MF cavities for temperature and magnetic field detection, respectively. The two cavities are reflective structures, which are interconnected in series through a fiber-optic circulator. Experimental data demonstrates that the Vernier effect effectively enhances the sensor sensitivity. The average temperature sensitivity of the sensor is 26765 pm/°C within the range of 35∼39.5°C. The magnetic field intensity sensitivity is obtained to be -2245 pm/mT within the range of 3∼11 mT. The sensitivities of the temperature and magnetic field using the Vernier effect are about five times larger than those of the corresponding single FP cavity counterparts.

Compact Vernier sensor with an all-fiber reflective scheme for simultaneous measurements of temperature and strain

We propose an all-fiber reflective sensing scheme to simultaneously measure temperature and strain. A length of polarization-maintaining fiber serves as the sensing element, and a piece of hollow-core fiber assists with introducing Vernier effect. Both theoretical deductions and simulative studies have demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed Vernier sensor. Experimental results have shown that the sensor can deliver sensitivities of -88.73 nm/°C and 1.61 nm/με for temperature and strain, respectively. Further, Both theoretical analyses and experimental results have suggested the capability of simultaneous measurement for such a sensor. Significantly, the proposed Vernier sensor not only presents high sensitivities, but also exhibits a simple structure, compact size and light weight, as well as demonstrates ease of fabrication and hence high repeatability, thus holding great promise for widespread applications in daily life and industry world.

Sensitivity investigation of cascaded abruptly tapered fiber based on the Vernier effect

In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a sensitivity-enhanced temperature sensor by cascading two non-adiabatic tapered fibers (NATFs) based on the Vernier effect. In addition, we investigate the influence of the presence of the reference arm on the cascaded NATFs and compare the temperature response. The experimental results show that a cascaded NATF configuration in which one NATF acts as a sensing arm and the other acts as a reference arm, achieves a temperature sensitivity of -917p m/^∘ C, which is 13.28 times that of the single NATF (-69p m/^∘ C), while a cascaded NATF configuration in which both NATFs act as a sensing arm attains a temperature sensitivity of 440 pm/°C, which is lower than the configuration with a reference arm. It is confirmed that the synchronous change of the two interferometers will reduce the sensing sensitivity of Vernier effect-based sensors by theory and experiments, and provides guidance for the design of Vernier effect-based sensors.

Highly sensitive temperature and strain sensor based on an antiresonant hollow core fiber probe with the Vernier effect

A highly sensitive temperature and strain sensor based on an antiresonant hollow core fiber (ARHCF) probe with the Vernier effect is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The ARHCF probe is used as a reference interferometer by sandwiching an ARHCF, which is insensitive to temperature, strain, and refractive index, between a single-mode fiber (SMF) and a polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF). The polarization mode interferometer (PMI), fabricated by splicing a section of PMF with a fiber polarizer at a 45-degree angle, works as a sensing interferometer. The Vernier effect is introduced by connecting the reference interferometer and the PMI in parallel. The experimental results show that by introducing the Vernier effect, the temperature sensitivity is improved from -1.68 to -15.7nm/^∘C and the strain sensitivity is improved from 5.09 to 47.65 pm/µε. The magnification is consistent with the theoretical results. The reference segment of the proposed sensor is not affected by ambient factors, which provides a new strategy and idea for the development of multiparameter sensors based on the Vernier effect.

Continuous monitoring system of gob temperature and its application

Due to the concealment of the fire source in the gob, the fire prevention and extinguishing work in the gob is facing great difficulties. This study is made in order to realize the real-time monitoring of gob temperature and the accurate positioning of high temperature area, so that the fire prevention and extinguishing work in gob can be targeted. In this study, the previously developed COMBUSS-3D software was used to predict the high temperature area in the gob of 85001 working face of Yangmeiwu Coal Mine and II830 working face of Zhuxianzhuang Coal Mine in China, and the continuous monitoring system of gob temperature was independently developed to realize the real-time monitoring of gob temperature, achieving the purpose of accurate positioning of high temperature area in gob. The results show that the high temperature area of the gob of 85001 working face of Yangmeiwu Coal Mine was in the range of approximate circle centered on the point (36.6, 30), and the maximum temperature was 31.7 °C. The high temperature area of the gob of II830 working face in Zhuxianzhuang Coal Mine presented an approximate ellipse centered on (28.2, 25), and the long axis was parallel to the working face, and the maximum temperature was 43.9 °C. The research results are expected to provide reference for the early prediction of spontaneous combustion in gob.

High-temperature-sensitive and spectrum-contrast-enhanced sensor using a bullet-shaped fiber cavity filled with PDMS

Low temperature sensitivity and low spectral contrast are serious but common issues for most Fabry Perot (FP) sensors with an air cavity. In this paper, a high-temperature-sensitive and spectrum-contrast-enhanced Fabry Perot interferometer (FPI) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The device is composed of a hollow cylindrical waveguide (HCW) filled with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a semi-elliptic PDMS end face. The semi-elliptic PDMS end face increases the spectral contrast significantly due to the focusing effect. Experimentally, the spectral contrast is 11.97 dB, which is two times higher than the sensor without semi-elliptic PDMS end face. Ultra-high temperature sensitivity of 3.1501 nm/°C was demonstrated. The proposed sensor exhibits excellent structural stability, high spectral contrast and high temperature sensitivity, showing great potential in biomedicine, industrial manufacturing, agricultural production and other applications.

Advanced Fiber Sensors Based on the Vernier Effect

For decades, optical fiber interferometers have been extensively studied and applied for their inherent advantages. With the rapid development of science and technology, fiber sensors with higher detection sensitivity are needed on many occasions. As an effective way to improve measurement sensitivity, Vernier effect fiber sensors have drawn great attention during the last decade. Similar to the Vernier caliper, the optical Vernier effect uses one interferometer as a fixed part of the Vernier scale and the other as a sliding part of the Vernier scale. This paper first illustrates the principle of the optical Vernier effect, then different configurations used to produce the Vernier effect are classified and discussed. Finally, the outlook for Vernier effect fiber sensors is presented.

Photon coupling-induced spectrum envelope modulation in the coupled resonators from Vernier effect to harmonic Vernier effect

The Vernier effect and harmonic Vernier effect have attracted ever-increasing interest due to their freely tailored spectrum envelope in tunable laser, modulator, and precision sensing. Most explorations have mainly focused on configuring two isolated optical resonators, namely the reference and tunable resonator. However, this configuration requires a stable reference resonator to guarantee robust readout, posing a significant challenge in applications. Here, we discover the coupled-resonators configuration enabling a reference-free envelope modulation to address this problem. Specifically, all parameters of one resonator theoretically span a hypersurface. When the resonator couples to another one, photon coupling merit an escaped solution from the hypersurface, resulting in an envelope modulation independent of reference. We have first experimentally verified this mechanism in a coupled air resonator and polydimethylsiloxane resonator by inserting a semi-transparent 2-mercaptobenzimidazole-modified silver nanowire network. In addition, this novel mechanism provides a new degree of freedom in the reciprocal space, suggesting alternative multiplexing to combine more envelope modulations simultaneously. This study facilitates the fundamental research in envelope multiplexing. More importantly, the combination of silver nanowire network and flexible microcavity experimentally progress the spectral envelope modulation in optoelectronic integration inside resonators.

Ultrasensitive temperature sensor and mode converter based on a modal interferometer in a two-mode fiber

This paper presents an ultrasensitive temperature sensor and tunable mode converter based on an isopropanol-sealed modal interferometer in a two-mode fiber. The modal interferometer consists of a tapered two-mode fiber (TTMF) sandwiched between two single-mode fibers. The sensor provides high-sensitivity temperature sensing by taking advantages of TTMF, isopropanol and the Vernier-like effect. The TTMF provides a uniform modal interferometer with LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ modes as well as strong evanescent field on its surface. The temperature sensitivity of the sensor can be improved due to the high thermo-optic coefficient of isopropanol. The Vernier-like effect based on the overlap of two interference spectra is applied to magnify the sensing capabilities with a sensitivity magnification factor of 58.5. The temperature sensor is implemented by inserting the modal interferometer into an isopropanol-sealed capillary. The experimental and calculated results show the transmission spectrum exhibit blue shift with increasing ambient temperature. Experimental results show that the isopropanol-sealed modal interferometer provides a temperature sensitivity up to -140.5 nm/°C. The interference spectrum has multiple dips at which the input LP₀₁ mode is converted to the LP₁₁ mode. This modal interferometer acts as a tunable multi-channel mode converter. The mode converter that can be tuned by varying temperature and mode switch is realized.

In-Fiber Interferometric-Based Sensors: Overview and Recent Advances

In-fiber interferometric-based sensors are a rapidly growing field, as these sensors exhibit many desirable characteristics compared to their regular fiber-optic counterparts and are being implemented in many promising devices. These sensors have the capability to make extremely accurate measurements on a variety of physical or chemical quantities such as refractive index, temperature, pressure, curvature, concentration, etc. This article is a comprehensive overview of the different types of in-fiber interferometric sensors that presents and discusses recent developments in the field. Basic configurations, a brief approach of the operating principle and recent applications are introduced for each interferometric architecture, making it easy to compare them and select the most appropriate one for the application at hand.

Ultrasensitive temperature sensor with Vernier-effect improved fiber Michelson interferometer

A novel fiber Michelson interferometer (FMI) based on parallel dual polarization maintaining fiber Sagnac interferometers (PMF-SIs) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for temperature sensing. The free spectral range (FSR) difference of dual PMF-SIs determines the FSR of envelope and sensitivity of the sensor. The temperature sensitivity of parallel dual PMF-SIs is greatly enhanced by the Vernier effect. Experimental results show that the temperature sensitivity of the proposed sensor is improved from -1.646 nm/°C (single PMF-SI) to 78.984 nm/°C (parallel dual PMF-SIs), with a magnification factor of 47.99, and the temperature resolution is improved from ±0.03037°C to ±0.00063°C by optimizing the FSR difference between the two PMF-SIs. Our proposed ultrasensitive temperature sensor is with easy fabrication, low cost and simple configuration which can be implemented for various real applications that need high precision temperature measurement.