New techniques for manufacturing optical-fiber-based fiber Fabry-Perot sensors

Christopher J. Tuck; Gerard Franklyn Fernando

doi:10.1117/12.472641

27 June 2002 New techniques for manufacturing optical-fiber-based fiber Fabry-Perot sensors

Christopher J. Tuck, Gerard Franklyn Fernando

Proceedings Volume 4694, Smart Structures and Materials 2002: Smart Sensor Technology and Measurement Systems; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.472641
Event: SPIE's 9th Annual International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 2002, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Optical fiber-based extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) sensors have been extensively deployed for sensing a number of measurands including temperature, strain, vibration and pressure. Their circular cross-section has made it relatively simple and attractive to embed them in advanced fibre reinforced composites (AFRCs) such as glass and carbon fibers. However, a typical construction of an EFPI consists of two optical fibers that are positioned and secured within a precision bore capillary. The relative outer diameters of the various key components are as follows: capillary = 300 micrometers ; optical fibre = 125 micrometers ; carbon and glass fibers = 8 and 14 micrometers respectively. This mismatch in relative diameters of the reinforcing and the sensor fibers can result in significant spatial distortion of the former. The location of the embedded sensing fibre in relation to the reinforcing fibre layers can also lead to the formation of resin-rich regions in the AFRC. These factors can have a detrimental effect on the compressive properties of the material. Therefore, there is significant attraction in reducing the overall diameter of the sensor. In this current paper, the feasibility of reducing the diameter of EFPI sensor design to that of the optical fibre is demonstrated via two techniques. The first technique involved the use of hydrofluoric acid to etch and create the Fabry-Perot cavity. In the second technique, the feasibility of using laser ablation to fabricate the Fabry-Perot cavity in silica and sapphire substrates is presented. The optical fibre-based Fabry-Perot cavity produced via acid etching was interrogated using white light interferometry.

Citation Download Citation

Christopher J. Tuck and Gerard Franklyn Fernando "New techniques for manufacturing optical-fiber-based fiber Fabry-Perot sensors", Proc. SPIE 4694, Smart Structures and Materials 2002: Smart Sensor Technology and Measurement Systems, (27 June 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.472641

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
10 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Sensors

Etching

Optical fibers

Fabry–Perot interferometers

Cladding

Silica

Fusion splicing

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years