Fiber-Optic Cavities for Physical and Chemical Sensing

Year: 2013

Authors: Avino S., Giorgini A., Gagliardi G.

Autors Affiliation: CNR-Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO), Pozzuoli (Naples), Italy

Abstract: Fiber-optic resonators can be used as ideal mechanical probes and chemical sensors owing to their unique sensitivity
to static and dynamic strain applied to the fiber as well as to optical absorption or refractive index changes in the
surrounding medium when the evanescent or the internal light field is exposed. The intrinsic properties of high-finesse fiber
cavities, either based on Bragg-grating structures or closed fiber rings, are discussed for quasi-static and dynamic
strain sensing. Laser illumination and high precision laser frequency-locking techniques are considered for low-noise, fast
and wide dynamic range active interrogation. Also, possible detection schemes for liquid sensing and spectroscopy using
fiber resonators are illustrated using single-frequency tunable lasers or supercontinuum comb generators as light sources.

Journal/Review: JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS

Volume: 7      Pages from: 128  to: 140

KeyWords: Optical fibers; Sensing;