Optical fiber sensors: a route from University of Kent to Portugal

In this work the authors first summarily describe the main topics that were the subject of their post-graduate activity in fiber sensing at the Applied Optics Group of University of Kent in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After their return to Porto, Portugal, the know-how acquired during their stay at Kent and the collaboration paths that followed between the University of Porto and University of Kent were instrumental in the start-up and progress of optical fiber sensing activity in Portugal. The main topics addressed in this field, the description of some of the relevant developments achieved in recent years, the present situation and the guidelines for the future research and development activity in Portugal in fiber sensing will be the core of this work.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fibre-optic SPR sensor with a FBG interrogation scheme for readout enhancement

In this work a new configuration of a refractometric sensor for aqueous solutions based on the combination of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with fibre Bragg gratings (FBG) is presented. Two FBGs are selected having reflection maxima in each side of the plasmon resonance peak. These FBGs enable a different processing scheme for the information provided by the SPR transducer. This improved interrogation method increases the sensitivity and resolution of the sensor compared with those obtained with the usual method of tracking the spectral transmittance minimum and makes the system performance independent of optical source power fluctuations. The experimental results obtained with a double-layer uniform-waist tapered fibre show the feasibility of this approach and its applicability in SPR-based biosensors that must face very exigent measuring conditions

Sensing Structure based on Surface Plasmonic Resonance in Single Mode Optical Fibers Chemically Etched

Many optical systems based on Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) have been developed for work as refractometers, chemical sensors or even for measure the thickness of metal and dielectric thin films. These kinds of systems are usually large, expensive and cannot be used for remote sensing. Optical fiber sensors based on SPR has been widely studied for the last 20 years with several configurations mostly using multimode optical fibers with large cores and plastic claddings. Sensors based on SPR present very high sensitivity to refractive index variations when compared to the traditional refractive index sensors. Here we propose a SPR sensor based in a single mode fiber. The fiber end is chemically etched by emersion in a 48% hydrofluoric acid solution, resulting a single mode fiber with the cladding removed in a small section. A resonance dip around 1580 nm was attained in good agreement with the simulation scenario that takes into account the real characteristics of the fiber

Ultra-high sensitive strain sensor based on post-processed optical fiber Bragg grating

An ultra-high sensitive strain sensor is proposed. The sensing head, based on the post-processing of a fiber Bragg grating, is used to perform passive and active strain measurements. Both wavelength and full width half maximum dependences with the applied strain are studied for the passive sensor, where maximum sensitivities of 104.1 pm/με and 61.6 pm/με are respectively obtained. When combining the high performance of this sensor with a ring laser cavity configuration, the Bragg grating will act as a filter and high resolution measurements can be performed. With the proposed sensor, a resolution of 700 nε is achieved

Detection of the crystallization process of paracetamol with a multi-mode optical fiber in a reflective configuration

A configuration of a refractometer sensor is described with the aim of optically detecting the crystallization process of paracetamol. The developed sensing head is based on a conventional cleaved multi-mode fiber. The fiber tip sensor structure was submitted to contact with the liquid of interest (paracetamol fully dissolved in 40% v/v of ethanol/water) and the crystallization process of paracetamol, induced with continued exposure to air, was monitored in real time.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio