Novel microbend loss fiber optic hydrophones for direction sensing

Dual purpose fiber optic microbend loss sensors have been developed for measurement of underwater acoustic wave amplitudes and for detection of the direction of wave propagation. Cylindrical sensing elements with external threads have fibers wound around them. Axial slots, cut along the length of the cylinder and deeper than the threads, provide the microbends. Three different construction schemes for cylindrical sensing elements are built. The dual purpose hydrophones are characterized for frequencies ranging from 15 kHz to 75 kHz. Based on the results, an improved design that uses the wavelength dependence of microbend loss in a single mode fiber is proposed.