Abstract

We report the utilization of transparent poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microwires as the transducer for optical gas flowmetry. The elasticity of the PDMS microwire was exploited not only to miniaturize and simplify the flowm eter but also to widen and tune the measurement range through mechanical stretching. Using a $9\mathrm{mm}$ long microwire, we achieved $2.8\sim 9.8\mathrm{dB}/\mathrm{SLM}$ sensitivity. A $500\mathrm{\mu m}$ stretching of the microwire also shifted the measurement range from 1 to $4\mathrm{SLM}$. The experimental results agreed well with predictions based on the fluid dynamic/optical model.

© 2011 Optical Society of America

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