Long-Period Fiber Grating Based on Side-Polished Optical Fiber and Its Sensing Application

A novel side-polished long-period fiber grating (LPFG) sensor was proposed and experimentally validated. Side-polished can provide a stronger evanescent field than traditional grating and bring superior sensitivity. The greater the side-polished depth, the higher the refractive index (RI) sensitivity. When d = 44 mu m, the RI sensitivity reached 466.85 nm/RIU in the range of 1.3330-1.3580, which is fourfold higher than the LPFG prepared by the electric-arc discharge (EAD) method. A graphene oxide (GO) nano-film is coated on the LPFG to make it realize high sensitivity relative humidity (RH) sensing. Humidity sensitivity reached -0.193 nm/%RH in the range of 40%-80% RH. In addition, side-polished breaks the symmetry of the distribution of the cross-sectional light field, which determines the ability to achieve vector curvature measurement. It shows good sensing performance in the same/opposite bending direction as the side polished surface. When the input light polarization is 90 degrees, the average sensitivity reaches 5.03 and -5.9 nm/m(-1) in the range of 0-19.67 m(-1), respectively. This strongly indicates that the fabricated sensors show high sensitivity, low-cost materials, and robust performance and break the limitations of the EDA method to prepare gratings, which have good application potential for biomedicine and the field of construction.

Automated summary

A novel side-polished long-period fiber grating (LPFG) sensor with graphene oxide (GO) nano-film coating is proposed and experimentally validated. The side-polished LPFG provides stronger evanescent field and higher refractive index sensitivity. The fabricated sensors demonstrate high sensitivity, low-cost materials, and robust performance, breaking the limitations of the EDA method for grating preparation.