Photonic crystal fibers for sensing applications

This paper discusses the sensing capabilities of the highly birefringent index-guided photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) such as dispersion characteristics of phase and group modal birefringence, polarization characteristics, sensitivity to hydrostatic pressures, temperature, and strain. Different types of applications including interferometric and polarimetric sensors of different physical parameters as well as evanescent field sensors for monitoring specific chemical compounds in gases and liquids are reported.