Highly Sensitive Dual-Core Microstructured Fiber Sensor Operating Near the Dispersion Turning Point

In this article, a highly sensitive dual-core microstructured fiber (DC-MSF) sensor is proposed. Because of the adjustable dispersion characteristic of the DC-MSF, the group refractive index (RI) difference between the y-polarization odd and even supermodes could achieve a zero value at the dispersion turning point (DTP), which makes the DC-MSF sensor have a high sensitivity. The simulation results show that the sensitivity can be up to 52 875 nm/RIU around the RI of 1.4, the operating bandwidth of sensitivity over 104 nm/RIU is 625 nm, and the operating bandwidth of sensitivity over 105 nm/RIU is 100 nm. Moreover, the DC-MSF can also be used as a temperature sensor by coating the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on the surface, and the sensitivity can be up to 23.12 nm/degrees C around 22 degrees C. The detectable RI and temperature ranges of the proposed DC-MSF sensor are 1.375-1.425 and -15 degrees C-95 degrees C, respectively.

Automated summary

In this article, a highly sensitive dual-core microstructured fiber (DC-MSF) sensor is proposed, which achieves a high sensitivity by utilizing the adjustable dispersion characteristic of the DC-MSF and the zero value of group refractive index difference at the dispersion turning point (DTP) between y-polarization odd and even supermodes. The simulation results demonstrate that the sensor's sensitivity can reach up to 52,875 nm/RIU around an RI of 1.4, with operating bandwidths of sensitivity over 104 nm/RIU and 105 nm/RIU being 625 nm and 100 nm, respectively. Additionally, the DC-MSF can be employed as a temperature sensor by coating it with PDMS, offering a sensitivity of 23.12 nm/degrees C around 22 degrees C. The detectable RI and temperature ranges of the proposed DC-MSF sensor are 1.375-1.425 and -15 degrees C-95 degrees C.