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Developments and Applications of Optical Fiber Sensors

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2025 | Viewed by 3862

Special Issue Editor

Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, 07745 Jena, Germany
Interests: fiber optics; optical fiber sensing; holographic endoscope; multimode fiber imaging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Optical fiber sensors have emerged as a promising technology for a wide range of applications, including civil structural health monitoring, environmental sensing, biomedical diagnostics, aerospace and defense monitoring, industrial process control, etc. The ability of optical fibers to transmit light signals with minimal loss, coupled with their high sensitivity to external stimuli, make them ideal candidates for sensing applications.

One of the key themes of this Special Issue is the development of optical fiber sensors for real-world applications, particularly discussing the challenges associated with deploying optical fiber sensors in harsh environments and proposing solutions for robust and reliable sensing.

Another important aspect of this Special Issue is the exploration of new sensing schemes based on optical fibers. It will cover topics such as distributed sensing, micro/nano-structured fiber sensors, multiplexing, and hybrid sensing systems, which are promising for enabling new sensing applications with enhanced performance and capabilities.

Overall, this Special Issue aims to provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research and developments in optical fiber sensors. It will be of interest to researchers, engineers, and practitioners working in the field of optical fiber sensing, as well as those interested in the broader applications of sensing technology.

Dr. Yang Du
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • optical fiber sensors
  • distributed fiber optic sensing
  • optical fiber chemical sensors
  • optical fiber biosensors
  • resonance-based sensors
  • fiber gratings sensors
  • microstructured fibers
  • nanostructured fibers

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 6207 KiB  
Article
Performance Enhancement of the Polarimetric Fibre Optical Current Sensor at JET Using Polarisation Optimisation
by Andrei Gusarov, Perry Beaumont, Paula Siren and JET Contributors
Sensors 2024, 24(2), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24020555 - 16 Jan 2024
Viewed by 521
Abstract
To achieve optimal operation of the polarimetry-based FOCS, the light polarisation state at the input of the sensing fibre part must be close to a linear one. In the case of a FOCS deployed on a tokamak, the Joint European Torus (JET) in [...] Read more.
To achieve optimal operation of the polarimetry-based FOCS, the light polarisation state at the input of the sensing fibre part must be close to a linear one. In the case of a FOCS deployed on a tokamak, the Joint European Torus (JET) in the present work, the long fibre optics link between the laser source and the sensing fibre modifies the polarisation in an unpredictable way, making it unclear which source polarisation state is to be set. A method for performing the necessary polarisation adjustment in a systematic way is proposed based on the FOCS analysis. The method requires performing data acquisition at two different input polarisations. Based on these measurements, the optimal laser source polarisation can be found. The method was experimentally verified using laboratory set-up and then successfully demonstrated with the FOCS installed at JET. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments and Applications of Optical Fiber Sensors)
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12 pages, 4592 KiB  
Article
Whispering-Gallery Mode Micro-Ring Resonator Integrated with a Single-Core Fiber Tip for Refractive Index Sensing
by Monika Halendy and Sławomir Ertman
Sensors 2023, 23(23), 9424; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23239424 - 26 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 901
Abstract
A micro-ring resonator structure was fabricated via the two-photon polymerization technique directly on a single-mode fiber tip and tested for refractive index sensing application. The micro-ring structure was used to excite whispering-gallery modes, and observations of the changes in the resonance spectrum introduced [...] Read more.
A micro-ring resonator structure was fabricated via the two-photon polymerization technique directly on a single-mode fiber tip and tested for refractive index sensing application. The micro-ring structure was used to excite whispering-gallery modes, and observations of the changes in the resonance spectrum introduced by changes in the refractive index of the environment served as the sensing principle. The proposed structure has the advantages of a very simple design, allowing for measurements in reflection mode, relatively easy and fast fabrication and integration with a single tip of a standard single-mode fiber, which allowed for quick and convenient measurements in the optical setup. The performance of the structure was characterized, and the resonant spectrum giving high potential for refractive index sensing was measured. Future perspectives of the research are addressed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments and Applications of Optical Fiber Sensors)
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14 pages, 3976 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of a Scintillating Plastic Optical Fiber Device for Measuring kV-Cone Beam Computed Tomography Dose
by Christian Popotte, Romain Letellier, Didier Paul, Alexandre Waltener, Nicolas Guillochon, Mélodie Munier and Paul Retif
Sensors 2023, 23(18), 7778; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23187778 - 09 Sep 2023
Viewed by 835
Abstract
Background: Justification of imaging procedures such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in radiotherapy makes no doubt. However, the CBCT composite dose is rarely reported or optimized, even though the repeated CBCT cumulative dose can be up to 3% of the prescription dose. [...] Read more.
Background: Justification of imaging procedures such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in radiotherapy makes no doubt. However, the CBCT composite dose is rarely reported or optimized, even though the repeated CBCT cumulative dose can be up to 3% of the prescription dose. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and utility of a new plastic scintillating optical fiber dosimeter for CBCT dosimetric quality assurance (QA) applications before a potential application in patient composite CBCT dosimetry. Methods: The dosimeter, made of 1 mm diameter plastic fiber, was installed under a linear accelerator treatment table and linked to photodetectors. The fiber impact on the fluence and dose delivered was respectively assessed with an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) and EBT3 Gafchromic® film. The presence of artifacts was visually evaluated on kV images. The dosimeter performances were determined for various acquisition parameters by comparison with ionization chamber values. Results: The maximum impact of the fiber on the fluence measured by the EPID was −1.2% for the 6 MV flattening filter-free beam. However, the fiber did not alter the film dose profile when measured for all the beams tested. The fiber was not visible at energies ≥ 80 kV and was merely visible on the CBCT images. When the rate of images per second or mA was changed, the maximum relative difference between the device and the ionization chamber CTDIs was <5%. Changing collimation led to a −7.2% maximum relative difference with an absolute dose difference that was insignificant (−0.3 mGy). Changing kV was associated with a −8.7% maximum relative difference, as published in the literature. Conclusions: The dosimeter may be a promising device for CBCT recurrent dosimetry quality control or dose optimization. According to these results, further developments are in progress in order to adapt the solution to the measurement of patient composite CBCT doses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments and Applications of Optical Fiber Sensors)
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16 pages, 12947 KiB  
Communication
Integrated Fiber Ring Laser Temperature Sensor Based on Vernier Effect with Lyot–Sagnac Interferometer
by Yuhui Liu, Weihao Lin, Jie Hu, Fang Zhao, Feihong Yu, Shuaiqi Liu, Jinna Chen, Huanhuan Liu, Perry Ping Shum and Xuming Zhang
Sensors 2023, 23(14), 6632; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23146632 - 24 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1005
Abstract
The Vernier effect created using an incorporated Lyot–Sagnac loop is used to create an ultra-high sensitivity temperature sensor based on a ring laser cavity. Unlike standard double Sagnac loop systems, the proposed sensor is fused into a single Sagnac loop by adjusting the [...] Read more.
The Vernier effect created using an incorporated Lyot–Sagnac loop is used to create an ultra-high sensitivity temperature sensor based on a ring laser cavity. Unlike standard double Sagnac loop systems, the proposed sensor is fused into a single Sagnac loop by adjusting the welding angle between two polarization-maintaining fibers (PMFs) to achieve effective temperature sensitivity amplification. The PMFs are separated into two arms of 0.8 m and 1 m in length, with a 45° angle difference between the fast axes. The sensor’s performance is examined both theoretically and experimentally. The experimental results reveal that the Vernier amplification effect can be achieved via PMF rotating shaft welding. The temperature sensitivity in the laser cavity can reach 2.391 nm/°C, which is increased by a factor of more than eight times compared with a single Sagnac loop structure (0.298 nm/°C) with a length of 0.8 m without the Vernier effect at temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 30 °C. Furthermore, unlike traditional optical fiber sensing that uses a broadband light source (BBS) for detection, which causes issues such as low signal-to-noise ratio and broad bandwidth, the Sagnac loop can be employed as a filter by inserting itself into the fiber ring laser (FRL) cavity. When the external parameters change, the laser is offset by the interference general modulation, allowing the external temperature to be monitored. The superior performance of signal-to-noise ratios of up to 50 dB and bandwidths of less than 0.2 nm is achieved. The proposed sensor has a simple structure and high sensitivity and is expected to play a role in biological cell activity monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments and Applications of Optical Fiber Sensors)
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