A strain sensor based on in-line fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer in twin-core photonic crystal fiber

We experimentally demonstrate a strain sensor realized using a twin-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF). The strain sensor element consists of a 10 cm long in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer consisting of twin-core PCF. The output spectra of the sensing element is measured and analyzed under various strain levels. The sensitivity of the strain measurement of -0.31 pm/mu epsilon is achieved within a range from 0 to 4000 mu epsilon. The effect of temperature is also analyzed. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.