Time-dependent variation of POF Bragg grating reflectivity and wavelength submerged in different liquids

In this work, we investigate the time-dependent variation of both the reflectivity and resonance wavelength of microstructured polymer optical fiber Bragg grating (mPOFBG) array sensors embedded in silicone rubber and polyurethane resin diaphragms in contact with water and aircraft fuel, respectively. The array sensors were inscribed using two different phase masks with pitches of 557.5 and 580 nm and the thermal annealing of the inscribed fiber was used to change the Bragg wavelengths. Both the reflection and the resonance wavelength shift were monitored over 90 days submerged in liquid and two studies were investigated. In the first study, in addition to the mPOFBGs coated with the diaphragm, also the rest of the fiber is totally protected between the sensors with the same material used for diaphragms. On the other hand, in the second study, the fiber between sensors is unprotected – in direct contact with liquid. PMMA and TOPAS fibers were used and this study suggests that TOPAS fiber should be a good option for long-term liquid monitoring applications

Annealing and etching effects on strain and stress sensitivity of polymer optical fibre Bragg grating sensors

Thermal annealing and chemical etching effects on the strain and stress sensitivity of polymer optical fibre based sensors are investigated. Bragg grating sensors have been photo-inscribed in PMMA optical fibre and their strain and stress sensitivity has been characterised before and after any annealing or etching process. The annealing and etching processes have been tried in different sequence in order to investigate their impact on the sensor’s performance. Results show with high confidence that fibre annealing can improve both strain and stress sensitivities. The fibre etching can also provide stress sensitivity enhancement, however the strain sensitivity changes seems to be random

Polymer optical fiber Bragg grating inscription with a single UV laser pulse

We experimentally demonstrate the first polymer optical fiber Bragg grating inscribed with only one krypton fluoride laser pulse. The device has been recorded in a single-mode poly(methyl methacrylate) optical fiber, with a core doped with benzyl dimethyl ketal for photosensitivity enhancement. One laser pulse with a duration of 15 ns, which provide energy density of 974 mJ/cm2, is adequate to introduce a refractive index change of 0.74×10-4 in the fiber core. After the exposure, the reflectivity of the grating increases for a few minutes following a second order exponential saturation. The produced Bragg grating structure rejects 17.9 dB transmitted power, thus providing 98.4% reflectivity, which is well suited for sensing applications. In addition, we report the importance of the fiber thermal treatment before or after the inscription, showing its effects on the lifetime and quality of the grating structures. Optimizing the irradiation conditions and the material chemical composition, a higher refractive index change in the fiber core is feasible. This demonstration significantly improves the potential for commercial exploitation of the technology

Fiber-optic liquid level monitoring system using microstructured polymer fiber Bragg grating array sensors:performance analysis

A highly sensitive liquid level monitoring system based on microstructured polymer optical fiber Bragg grating (mPOFBG) array sensors is reported for the first time. The configuration is based on five mPOFBGs inscribed in the same fiber in the 850 nm spectral region, showing the potential to interrogate liquid level by measuring the strain induced in each mPOFBG embedded in a silicone rubber (SR) diaphragm, which deforms due to hydrostatic pressure variations. The sensor exhibits a highly linear response over the sensing range, a good repeatability, and a high resolution. The sensitivity of the sensor is found to be 98 pm/cm of water, enhanced by more than a factor of 9 when compared to an equivalent sensor based on a silica fiber around 1550 nm. The temperature sensitivity is studied and a multi-sensor arrangement proposed, which has the potential to provide level readings independent of temperature and the liquid density

Sensitivity enhancement using annealed polymer optical fibre based sensors for pressure sensing applications

Thermal annealing can be used to induce a permanent negative Bragg wavelength shift for polymer fibre grating sensors and it was originally used for multiplexing purposes. Recently, researchers showed that annealing can also provide additional benefits, such as strain and humidity sensitivity enhancement and augmented temperature operational range. The annealing process can change both the optical and mechanical properties of the fibre. In this paper, the annealing effects on the stress and force sensitivities of PMMA fibre Bragg grating sensors are investigated. The incentive for that investigation was an unexpected behaviour observed in an array of sensors which were used for liquid level monitoring. One sensor exhibited much lower pressure sensitivity and that was the only one that was not annealed. To further investigate the phenomenon, additional sensors were photo-inscribed and characterised with regard their stress and force sensitivities. Then, the fibres were annealed by placing them in hot water, controlling with that way the humidity factor. After annealing, stress and force sensitivities were measured again. The results show that the annealing can improve the stress and force sensitivity of the devices. This can provide better performing sensors for use in stress, force and pressure sensing applications

Novel thermal annealing methodology for permanent tuning polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings to longer wavelengths

The Bragg wavelength of a polymer optical fiber Bragg grating can be permanently shifted by utilizing the thermal annealing method. In all the reported fiber annealing cases, the authors were able to tune the Bragg wavelength only to shorter wavelengths, since the polymer fiber shrinks in length during the annealing process. This article demonstrates a novel thermal annealing methodology for permanently tuning polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings to any desirable spectral position, including longer wavelengths. Stretching the polymer optical fiber during the annealing process, the period of Bragg grating, which is directly related with the Bragg wavelength, can become permanently longer. The methodology presented in this article can be used to multiplex polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings at any desirable spectral position utilizing only one phase-mask for their photo-inscription, reducing thus their fabrication cost in an industrial setting

Aviation fuel gauging sensor utilizing multiple diaphragm sensors incorporating polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings

A high-performance fuel gauging sensor is described that uses five diaphragm-based pressure sensors, which are monitored using a linear array of polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings. The sensors were initially characterized using water, revealing a sensitivity of 98 pm/cm for four of the sensors and 86 pm/cm for the fifth. The discrepancy in the sensitivity of the fifth sensor has been explained as being a result of the annealing of the other four sensors. Initial testing in JET A-1 aviation fuel revealed the unsuitability of silicone rubber diaphragms for prolonged usage in fuel. A second set of sensors manufactured with a polyurethane-based diaphragm showed no measurable deterioration over a three month period immersed in fuel. These sensors exhibited a sensitivity of 39 pm/cm, which is less than the silicone rubber devices due to the stiffer nature of the polyurethane material used

High performance liquid-level sensor based on mPOFBG for aircraft applications

A high performance liquid-level sensor based on microstructured polymer optical fiber Bragg grating (mPOFBG) array sensors is reported in detail. The sensor sensitivity is found to be 98pm/cm of liquid, enhanced by more than a factor of 9 compared to a reported silica fiber-based sensor

High-quality Phase-Shifted Bragg grating sensor inscribed with only one laser pulse in a polymer optical fiber

We present the first phase-shifted polymer optical fiber Bragg grating sensor inscribed with only one KrF laser pulse. The phase shift defect was created directly during the grating inscription process by placing a very narrow blocking aperture, in the center of the UV beam. One laser pulse with a duration of 15 ns and energy 6.3 mJ is adequate to introduce a refractive index change of 0.69×10-4 in the fiber core. The high-quality produced Bragg grating structure rejects 16.3 dB transmitted power, thus providing 97.6% reflectivity, which is well suited for photonic applications. The transmission notch depth is about 10 dB and very sharp notches of 3 dB width ranging from 14 pm is reported. The temperature, strain, and pressure response of the sensor has been characterized showing promising results in applications that require high-precision measurements. The ability to inscribe these high-quality sensors effectively can significantly reduce their production cost in industry

Phase-shifted Bragg grating inscription in PMMA microstructured POF using 248 nm UV radiation

In this work we experimentally validate and characterize the first phase-shifted polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings (PS-POFBGs) produced using a single pulse from a 248 nm krypton fluoride laser. A single-mode poly (methyl methacrylate) optical fiber with a core doped with benzyl dimethyl ketal for photosensitivity improvement was used. A uniform phase mask customized for 850 nm grating inscription was used to inscribe these Bragg structures. The phase shift defect was created directly during the grating inscription process by placing a narrow blocking aperture in the center of the UV beam. The produced high-quality Bragg grating structures, presenting a double dips, reject 16.3 dB (97.6% reflectivity) and 13.2 dB (95.2% reflectivity) of the transmitted power, being therefore appropriate for sensing or other photonic applications. Its transmission spectrum possesses two sharp transmission notches, allowing a significant increase in measurement resolution compared to direct interrogation of a single grating. The reflection and transmission spectra when multiple phase shifts are introduced in the FBG structure are also shown. The PS-POFBG's strain, temperature, pressure, and humidity characteristics have been experimentally analyzed in detail to assess their potential usage as sensors