Optical sensor utilizing hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber with low phase thermal constant
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsMichel J. F. Digonnet, Hyang Kyun Kim, Vinayak Dangui, Gordon S. Kino
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Abstract
An optical sensor includes an optical coupler. The optical sensor further includes a photonic bandgap fiber having a hollow core and an inner cladding generally surrounding the core. The photonic bandgap fiber is in optical communication with the optical coupler. Light signals counterpropagate through the photonic bandgap fiber and return to the optical coupler. The photonic bandgap fiber has a phase thermal constant S less than 8 parts-per-million per degree Celsius.
Claims27
An optical sensor comprising:
- an optical coupler configured to emit a first optical signal and a second optical signal, the first and second optical signals having the same wavelength;
- and
- a photonic bandgap fiber having a hollow core and an inner cladding generally surrounding the core, the photonic bandgap fiber in optical communication with the optical coupler such that the first optical signal and the second optical signal counterpropagate through the photonic bandgap fiber and return to the optical coupler, wherein the photonic bandgap fiber has a phase thermal constant S less than 8 parts-per-million per degree Celsius.
A method for sensing comprising:
- counterpropagating light signals through a portion of a photonic bandgap fiber having a hollow core and an inner cladding generally surrounding the core, wherein the photonic bandgap fiber has a phase thermal constant S less than 8 parts-per-million per degree Celsius;
- optically interfering the light signals after the light signals propagate through the photonic bandgap fiber, thereby producing an optical interference signal;
- subjecting at least a portion of the photonic bandgap fiber to a perturbation;
- and
- measuring variations in the optical interference signal caused by the perturbation.
An optical system comprising a photonic bandgap fiber having a hollow core, an inner cladding generally surrounding the core, an outer cladding generally surrounding the inner cladding, and a jacket generally surrounding the outer cladding, wherein the photonic bandgap fiber has a phase thermal constant S less than 8 ppm per degree Celsius.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.