Novel phase-modulated optical fiber sensors

Abstract

Optical fiber systems have been developed during the past twenty-five years with primary applications in long distance, high speed digital information communication. Optical fiber sensors have also been developed over the past fifteen years for the nondestructive inspection and evaluation of materials used in the aerospace, energy, transportation, and medical industries. Optical fibers may be used as the field-sensitive elements in sensors for the measurement of environmental parameters such as displacement, strain, temperature, vibration, chemical concentrations and electromagnetic fields. Their advantages for such measurements include 1) an inherent immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMD), 2) avoidance of ground loops, 3) the capability of responding to a wide variety of measurands, 4) excellent resolution, 5) the avoidance of sparks, especially important for applications within explosive environments, and 6) operation at temperatures of approximately 800°C for silica waveguides and above 1900°C for sapphire waveguides.

Phase-modulated optical fiber sensors have been shown to possess the highest sensitivities to a given measurand. This dissertation describes several novel phase-modulated optical fiber sensors. The sensors described include a strain gage, a temperature sensor for applications up to and including 1700°C, a displacement sensor with sub-Angstrom resolution, and a vibration mode filter. For each sensing concept, a description and method of operation is given, followed by fabrication methods and experimental results.