title: Optical refractometer based on large-core air-clad photonic crystal fibers.
abstract: A large-core air-clad photonic crystal fiber-based sensing structure is described, which is sensitive to refractive index. The sensing head is based on multimodal interference, and relies on a single-mode/large-core air-clad photonic crystal fiber (PCF)/single-mode fiber configuration. Using two distinct large-core air-clad PCF geometries-one for refractive index measurement and the other for temperature compensation, it was possible to implement a sensing head sensitive to refractive index changes in water as induced by temperature variations. The results indicated the high sensitivity of this sensing head to refractive index variations of water, and a resolution of 3.4×10(-5) refractive index units could be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores (INESC) Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: F Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Malcata
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kobelke
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frazão