Orientation-dependant inclinometer based on intermodal coupling of two-LP-modes in a polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber

Opt Express. 2013 Jul 29;21(15):17576-85. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.017576.

Abstract

A reflective optic-fiber orientation-dependant inclinometer, in which a short piece of polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber (PM-PCF) is spliced with a lead-in single mode fiber (SMF) without any offset, is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The hollow holes within the PM-PCF are partly collapsed due to the directional arc-heating splicing and couple two linearly polarized (LP) modes into the downstream PM-PCF. Then two LP-modes are reflected at the end face of PM-PCF and recoupled back into the lead-in SMF again via the collapsed splicing cross section. A well-defined interference pattern is obtained as the result of polarized modes interference. Both orientation and sensitivity of bending is determined unambiguously with this compact PM-PCF configuration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accelerometry / instrumentation*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Fiber Optic Technology / instrumentation*
  • Light
  • Lighting / instrumentation*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Scattering, Radiation