Optical Phase Refractometer Based on Post-Processed Interferometric Tip Sensors

Abstract

An interferometric tip sensor based on the post-process of a special design double-cladding optical fiber is proposed. Due to the sensing head design, it is sensitive to environmental variations. In order to analyze this effect, the sensing head is subjected to temperature variations both in liquid and gas (at 1 atm). Comparing the two signals, it is possible to discriminate the contribution of the liquid refractive index variation with temperature. Not only the amplitude of the signal varies with the surrounding medium, but also the phase of the interferometric pattern alters. This is due to the presence of a thin diaphragm at the end face of the fiber structure turning the sensing head in a three wave interferometric device. An indirect measurement of the water refractive index is performed, by subjecting the sensing head to temperature variations in air and water. Even though the sensitivities obtained are lower than the ones reported in the literature, it should be highlighted that there is no core exposition of the fiber to the external medium. The sensor is easy to fabricate, robust, and reproducible.