title: Curvature sensor using a highly birefringent photonic crystal fiber with two asymmetric hole regions in a Sagnac interferometer.
abstract: A curvature sensor based on a highly birefringent (Hi-Bi) photonic crystal fiber inserted into a Sagnac interferometer is demonstrated. For this purpose, a novel Hi-Bi photonic crystal fiber was designed and fabricated. Half of the microstructured region of the photonic crystal fiber was composed by large diameter holes, while the other half contained small diameter holes. Because of this geometry, the fiber core was shifted from the center and high birefringence appears in the optical fiber. Curvature was applied for three different fiber directions for a range of 0.6-5 m(-1). Temperature and longitudinal strain was also characterized for constant curvature. The configuration showed insensitivity to these two physical parameters.
authors.affiliation: INESC Porto - Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal. ofrazao@inescporto.pt
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frazão
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roy