Inline fiber interference-based refractive-index sensor

We report two fiber multiple-mode interferometers formed in photonic crystal fiber (PCF). The interference between the core and the cladding modes of a PCF is utilized. We use two methods to form a coupling point, and the cladding modes are excited from the fundamental core mode. One method is blowing compressed gas into the air holes and discharging at the coupling point; the air holes will expand due to gas expansion in the discharge process. Similarly, the other is discharging at the coupling point after the air is exhausted from the air holes, and the holes will contract during the process. By making another coupling point at a different location along the fiber, the proposed PCF interferometers are implemented. Experimental results show that the sensitivities of the two devices can achieve 1.54 and 1.45 nm for a 0.01 refractive index change. (C) 2014 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)