Polarimetric fiber optic sensors: state of the art and future

Polarimetric fiber optic sensors belong to phase sensors, in which phase shift between two electric field components of a light beam passing through a highly birefringent (HB) optical fiber is responsible for a change in polarization state of the output light. Since the output polarization can be easily affected by different stresses, axial strain, hydrostatic pressure of temperature acting on a measuring fiber that is the reason why polarimetric fiber optic sensors hold great potential in applications to many fields of modern industry and civil engineering. The paper presents a short theoretical overview of polarimetric sensors with various types of HB fibers on the basis of a research collaboration between two optoelectronics laboratories at Univ. of Quebec at Hull and at Warsaw Univ. of Technology. Current trends of developments and possible future applications are also discussed.