Measurements of polarimetric sensitivity to hydrostatic pressure, strain and temperature in birefringent dual-core microstructured polymer fiber

We experimentally characterized a birefringent microstructured polymer fiber of specific construction, which allows for single mode propagation in two cores separated by a pair of large holes. The fiber exhibits high birefringence in each of the cores as well as relatively weak coupling between the cores. Spectral dependence of the group and the phase modal birefringence was measured using an interferometric method. We have also measured the sensing characteristics of the fiber such as polarimetric sensitivity to hydrostatic pressure, strain and temperature. Moreover, we have studied the effect of hydrostatic pressure and strain on coupling between the cores

Polarimetric sensitivity to hydrostatic pressure and temperature in birefringent dual-core microstructured polymer fiber

We experimentally characterized a birefringent microstructured polymer fiber of specific construction, which allows for single mode propagation in two cores separated by a pair of large holes. The fiber exhibits high birefringence in each of the cores as well as relatively weak coupling between the cores. Spectral dependence of the group and the phase modal birefringence was measured using an interferometric method. We have also measured the sensing characteristics of the fiber such as the polarimetric sensitivity to hydrostatic pressure and temperature

Measurements of stress-optic coefficient in polymer optical fibers

We have systematically measured the differential stress-optic coefficient, ?C, in a number of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) fibers drawn with different stress, ranging from 2 up to 27 MPa. ?C was determined in transverse illumination by measuring the dependence of birefringence on additional axial stress applied to the fiber. Our results show that ?C in PMMA fibers has a negative sign and ranges from -4.5 to -4.5×10-12 Pa-1, depending on the drawing stress. Increase of the drawing stress results in greater initial fiber birefringence and lower ?C

Measurements of stress-optic coefficient and Young's modulus in PMMA fibers drawn under different conditions

We have systematically measured the differential stress-optic coefficient, ΔC, and Young's modulus, E, in a number of PMMA fibers drawn with different stress, ranging from 2 up to 27 MPa. Effect of temperature annealing on those parameters was also investigated. ΔC was determined in transverse illumination by measuring the dependence of birefringence on additional axial stress applied to the fiber. Our results show that ΔC in PMMA fibers has a negative sign and ranges from -4.5 to -1.5×10-12 Pa -1 depending on the drawing stress. Increase of the drawing stress results in greater initial fiber birefringence and lower ΔC. The dependence of ΔC and initial birefringence upon drawing stress is nonlinear and gradually saturates for higher drawing stress. Moreover, we find that ΔC is linearly proportional to initial fiber birefringence and that annealing the fiber has no impact on the slope of this dependence. On the other hand, no clear dependence was observed between the fiber drawing stress and the Young's modulus of the fibers as measured using microscopic digital image correlation with the fibers tensioned using an Instron tension tester

Experimental Analysis of Bragg Reflection Peak Splitting in Gratings Fabricated Using a Multiple Order Phase Mask

We performed an experimental analysis of the effect of phase mask alignment on the Bragg grating reflection spectra around the wavelength of λB = 1560 nm fabricated in polymer optical fiber by using a multiple order phase mask. We monitored the evolution of the reflection spectra for different values of the angle ϕ by describing the tilt between the phase mask and the fiber. We observed that the peak at λB is split into five separate peaks for the nonzero tilt and that separation of the peaks increases linearly with ϕ. Through comparison with theoretical data we were able to identify the five peaks as products of different grating periodicities, which are associated with the interference of different pairs of diffraction orders on the phase mask

Hydrostatic Pressure and Temperature Measurements Using an In-Line Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Based on a Two-Mode Highly Birefringent Microstructured Fiber

We present a comprehensive study of an in-line Mach-Zehnder intermodal interferometer fabricated in a boron-doped two-mode highly birefringent microstructured fiber. We observed different interference signals at the output of the interferometer, related to the intermodal interference of the fundamental and the first order modes of the orthogonal polarizations and a beating of the polarimetric signal related to the difference in the group modal birefringence between the fundamental and the first order modes, respectively. The proposed interferometer was tested for measurements of hydrostatic pressure and temperature for different alignments of the input polarizer with no analyzer at the output. The sensitivities to hydrostatic pressure of the intermodal interference signals for x- and y-polarizations had an opposite sign and were equal to 0.229 nm/MPa and −0.179 nm/MPa, respectively, while the temperature sensitivities for both polarizations were similar and equal 0.020 nm/°C and 0.019 nm/°C. In the case of pressure, for the simultaneous excitation of both polarization modes, we observed a displacement of intermodal fringes with a sensitivity depending on the azimuth of the input polarization state, as well as on the displacement of their envelope with a sensitivity of 2.14 nm/MPa, accompanied by a change in the fringes visibility. Such properties of the proposed interferometer allow for convenient adjustments to the pressure sensitivity of the intermodal fringes and possible applications for the simultaneous interrogation of temperature and pressure

The Fiber Connection Method Using a Tapered Silica Fiber Tip for Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibers

In this work, an alternative method of coupling light into microstructured polymer fibers is presented. The solution consists in using a fiber taper fabricated with a CO2 laser. The connection is formed by inserting a tapered silica tip into the holes of a microstructured polymer fiber. This alternative method is duly characterized and the feasibility of such fiber connection to enable the polymer fiber as a displacement sensor is also demonstrated