Portable polarimetric fiber stress sensor system for visco-elastic and biomimetic material analysis

An apparatus comprising:

• a light source;
• an in-line fiber polarizer that polarizes light received from the light source, the in-line fiber polarizer outputting light in a first polarization state;
• a plurality of polarization-maintaining fibers contacting a test sample, each polarization-maintaining fiber having a fast axis and a slow axis;
• a first light multiplexing splitter that allows the light in a first polarization state to be outputted to a selected polarization-maintaining fiber from the plurality of polarization-maintaining fibers, the selected polarization-maintaining fiber receiving the light in a first polarization state which is then transmitted through the polarization-maintaining fiber exiting as light in a second polarization state;
• a compression device that applies a force (F) to and compresses the test sample that is in contact with the plurality of polarization-maintaining, the force being applied over at a contact area on the test sample, the compression device applying a time varying force to the test sample in which the force is sequentially increased;
• a second light multiplexing switch that allows the light in a second polarization state to be selectively outputted to a polarimeter from the selected polarization-maintaining fiber, the second light multiplexing switch cyclically selecting each fiber of the plurality of polarization-maintaining fibers;
• a polarimeter that receives the light in a second polarization state and outputs polarization state data for the light in an second polarization state;
• and
• a data processor in communication with the polarimeter, the data processor receiving and storing the polarization state data.