Fibre optic modal interferometry for sensing applications

Fibre optic modal interferometry has been around for long as a sensing concept. Initially mainly supported on the utilization of standard Hi-Bi fibres associated to polarimetric modal interferometry, later this sensing approach evolved to modal interference based on spatial modes propagating in the core, and on spatial modes propagating in the core and in the cladding, with coupling performed by fibre devices such as long period gratings and tapers. More recently the outcome of Photonic Crystal Fibres (PCF) originated a burst of activity around the concept of modal interferometry for sensing. The reasons for that viewed in a historic perspective are presented in this work.

[1]  Pieter L. Swart,et al.  Long-period grating Michelson refractometric sensor , 2004 .

[2]  P. Caldas,et al.  Fiber modal Michelson interferometers with coherence addressing and heterodyne interrogation , 2008 .

[3]  David J. Webb,et al.  A high sensitivity refractometer based upon a long period grating Mach–Zehnder interferometer , 2002 .

[4]  G. G. Stokes.  "J." , 1890, The New Yale Book of Quotations.

[5]  M. R. Layton,et al.  Optical fiber acoustic sensor utilizing mode-mode interference. , 1979, Applied optics.

[6]  B. Kim,et al.  Use of highly elliptical core fibers for two-mode fiber devices. , 1987, Optics letters.

[7]  O. Frazão,et al.  Optical inclinometer based on a single long-period fiber grating combined with a fused taper. , 2006, Optics letters.

[8]  B. Culshaw,et al.  Optical fiber sensor technologies: opportunities and-perhaps-pitfalls , 2004, Journal of Lightwave Technology.

[9]  Perry Ping Shum,et al.  Wavelength-selective all-fiber filter based on a single long-period fiber grating and a misaligned splicing point , 2006 .

[10]  B. Culshaw,et al.  Fiber-Optic Sensing: A Historical Perspective , 2008, Journal of Lightwave Technology.

[11]  Pedro A. S. Jorge,et al.  Geometrical effects on the refractive index sensitivity of Mach–Zehnder fibre modal interferometers based on long-period gratings , 2009 .

[12]  Orlando Frazão,et al.  Optical sensing with photonic crystal fibers , 2008 .

[13]  W. Eickhoff,et al.  Temperature sensing by mode-mode interference in birefringent optical fibers. , 1981, Optics letters.

[14]  Gonçal Badenes,et al.  Highly Sensitive Sensors Based on Photonic Crystal Fiber Modal Interferometers , 2009, J. Sensors.

[15]  P. Caldas,et al.  Optical flowmeter using a modal interferometer based on a single nonadiabatic fiber taper. , 2007, Optics letters.