Abstract
In this paper, dual-polarization fiber grating lasers are exploited
as heterodyning sensors for hydrostatic pressure measurement. The laser is
formed by photo-inscribing two highly reflective wavelength-matched Bragg
gratings over a short section of Er-doped fiber. The measurement is carried
out by monitoring the beat frequency between the orthogonally polarized laser
output. The pressure sensitivity of a bare sensor is -0.59 MHz/MPa. Theoretical
analysis suggests that the pressure response is dominantly determined by the
change in intra-cavity birefringence, which is associated with the geometrical
imperfection of the fiber core. The effects of differences in elastic properties
between fiber core and cladding on the pressure response are examined. We
found that the differences in Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio are mainly
responsible for the pressure sensitivity. The pressure sensitivity can be
significantly enhanced by packaging the laser into a polymer incorporated
with a steel rod. Due to the difference in elastic properties between materials,
an additional birefringence is introduced into the laser cavity under hydrostatic
pressure. The sensitivity has been enhanced by 228 times, to 170 MHz/MPa.
The minimal detectable pressure change of the packaged sensor is about 0.01
MPa. We further demonstrate a miniature packaged sensor with a cross-sectional
dimension of only 1.42 mm and a pressure sensitivity of 53.9 MHz/MPa towards
practical applications.
© 2013 IEEE
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