Microwave Interrogated Large Core Fused Silica Fiber Michelson Interferometer for Strain Sensing

Abstract

A Michelson-type large core optical fiber sensor has been developed, which is designed based on the optical carrier- based microwave interferometry technique, and fabricated by using two pieces of 200-µm diameter fused silica core fiber as two arms of the Michelson interferometer. The interference fringe pattern caused by the optical path difference of the two arms is interrogated in the microwave domain, where the fringe visibility of 40 dB has easily been obtained. The strain sensing at both room temperature and high temperatures has been demonstrated by using such a sensor. Experimental results show that this sensor has a linear response to the applied strain, and also has relatively low temperature-strain cross talk. The dopant-free quality of the fused silica fiber provides high possibility for the sensor to have promising strain sensing performance in a high temperature environment.

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Sponsor(s)

United States. Department of Energy
National Science Foundation (U.S.)

Comments

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) (DEFE00012272); National Science Foundation (NSF) (1359716).

Keywords and Phrases

Crosstalk; Fibers; Interferometers; Interferometry; Michelson interferometers; Microwave sensors; Optical fiber fabrication; Optical fibers; Silica; Temperature; Visibility, Fringe visibilities; Fused-silica fibers; High-temperature environment; Interference fringe pattern; Microwave interferometries; Optical fiber sensor; Optical path difference; Silica core fiber, Fused silica

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1559-128X

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2015 Optical Society of America, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Aug 2015

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