Torsion bidirectional sensor based on tilted-arc long-period fiber grating

Opt Express. 2019 Dec 23;27(26):37695-37705. doi: 10.1364/OE.27.037695.

Abstract

Fiber torsion sensor has been researched for many years due to its various structure and sensitive response. In order to distinguish the torsion direction, fiber sensor still faces some difficult problems, including complex fabricating condition, special fiber structure and limited sensitivity. In this paper, a novel long-period fiber grating (LPFG) formed by tilted-arc grids is designed and fabricated in the normal simple-mode fiber, showing small size and high sensitivity. The asymmetrical tilted-arc grid structure can induce considerable chirality into the tilted-arc LPFG to enable it to distinguish torsion direction, which doesn't need any equipment to rotate or twist the fiber in the fabrication process. Theoretical analysis indicates that the structure can respond opposite wavelength shifting to the opposite torsion directions, and the torsion sensitivity is related to both the radius and tilted angle of grid. A series of tilted-arc LPFGs are fabricated with CO2-laser scanning and tested in torsion experiment, all of whom can distinguish bidirectional torsion. The maximum sensitivity value can reach 0.514 nm/(rad·m-1), which is higher than many normal tilted LPFGs and twisted fiber structures. The novel LPFG has the potential to be applied in directional torsion field due to its direction-distinguishing ability, high sensitivity and simple fabrication.