title: Bending sensor based on intermodal interference properties of two-dimensional waveguide array fiber.
abstract: We propose a highly sensitive bending sensor based on the intermodal interference properties of a strongly coupled two-dimentional waveguide array fiber (WAF). The interference resonance peaks formed by the SMF-WAF-SMF Mach-Zehnder interferometer are intrinsically the result of interference between the LP(01)-like supermode and other higher order supermodes, displaying supernormal sensitivity to bending in a wide curvature range. The bending sensitivity of the intermodal MZI is a quadratic function of curvature, and the resonance wavelength shift is up to 100 nm within a curvature range 0-10 m(-1). The fabrication reveals briefness, and temperature response shows little impact on the bend sensing precision. The high bending sensitivity and wide sensing range can make this device a candidate for bending discrimination and measurement in widespread areas.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Optical Information and Technology, Ministry of Education and Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tong