Temperature-insensitive strain sensor with polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber based Sagnac interferometer

A fiber-optic strain sensor is demonstrated by using a short length of polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber (PM-PCF) as the sensing element inserted in a Sagnac loop interferometer. Spectrum shift in response of strain with a sensitivity of 0.23pm∕μe is achieved, and the measurement range, by stretching the PM-PCF only, is up to 32me. Due to the ultralow thermal sensitivity of the PM-PCF, the proposed strain sensor is inherently insensitive to temperature, eliminating the requirement for temperature compensation.

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