Microstructured optical fiber refractive index sensor

We describe a dual-core microstructured optical fiber designed for refractive index sensing of fluids. We show that by using the exponential dependence of intercore coupling on analyte refractive index, both large range and high sensitivity can be achieved in the one device. We also show that selective filling of the microstructure with analyte can increase the device sensitivity by approximately 1 order of magnitude. (c) 2010 Optical Society of America