Torsion sensing characteristics of long period fiber gratings fabricated by femtosecond laser in optical fiber

With the alignment of the fiber core systems containing dual-CCDs and high-precision electric displacement platform, twisted long period fiber gratings (T-LPFGs) were fabricated in two different twisted SMF-28 fibers by femtosecond laser. The torsion characteristics of the T-LPFGs were experimentally and theoretical investigated and demonstrated in this study. The achieved torsion sensitivity is 117.4 pm/(rad/m) in the torsion range -105-0 rad/m with a linearity of 0.9995. Experimental results show that compared with the ordinary long period fiber gratings, the resonance wavelength of the gratings presents an opposite symmetrical shift depending on the twisting direction after the applied torsion is removed. In addition, high sensitivity could be obtained, which is very suitable for the applications in the torsion sensor. These results are important for the design of new torsion sensors based on T-LPFGs fabricated by femtosecond laser. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.