Heming Wei

Optofluidic Photonic Crystal Fiber Coupler for Measuring the Refractive Index of Liquids

We report a novel optical sensing device capable of measuring the refractive index of liquids based on evanescent field coupling between a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) that is side-polished and coupled to a side-polished single-mode fiber (SMF). The PCF is used for liquid analyte transport, while the SMF is used for light ingress and egress. The optical coupling efficiency in this device is sensitive to the refractive index of the PCF which varies with the presence of analytes in the holes of the PCF. The fabrication process of the coupler and its performance as a refractive-index sensor are presented. Due to its compact size and features for interactions between the light and the analyte, the sensor can operate as a highly responsive optofluidic device. The results show that this kind of sensing device provides a promising platform for refractive index measurements with an estimated accuracy of 10-5 refractive index unit.

Fiber Bragg grating dynamic strain sensor using an adaptive reflective semiconductor optical amplifier source.

In this paper, a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) is configured to demodulate dynamic spectral shifts of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) dynamic strain sensor. The FBG sensor and the RSOA source form an adaptive fiber cavity laser. As the reflective spectrum of the FBG sensor changes due to dynamic strains, the wavelength of the laser output shifts accordingly, which is subsequently converted into a corresponding phase shift and demodulated by an unbalanced Michelson interferometer. Due to the short transition time of the RSOA, the RSOA-FBG cavity can respond to dynamic strains at high frequencies extending to megahertz. A demodulator using a PID controller is used to compensate for low-frequency drifts induced by temperature and large quasi-static strains. As the sensitivity of the demodulator is a function of the optical path difference and the FBG spectral width, optimal parameters to obtain high sensitivity are presented. Multiplexing to demodulate multiple FBG sensors is also discussed.

Grapefruit photonic crystal fiber sensor for gas sensing application

Abstract. Use of long period gratings (LPGs) formed in grapefruit photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with thin-film overlay coated on the inner surface of air holes for gas sensing is demonstrated. The finite-element method was used to numerically simulate the grapefruit PCF–LPG modal coupling characteristics and resonance spectral response with respect to the refractive index of thin-film inside the holey region. A gas analyte-induced index variation of the thin-film immobilized on the inner surface of the holey region of the fiber can be observed by a shift of the resonance wavelength. As an example, we demonstrate a 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) sensor using grapefruit PCF–LPGs. The sensor exhibits a wavelength blue-shift of ∼820  pm as a result of exposure to DNT vapor with a vapor pressure of 411  ppbv at 25°C, and a sensitivity of 2  pm ppbv−1 can be achieved.

Direct Laser Writing Polymer Micro-Resonators for Refractive Index Sensors

A sensitive refractometric polymer micro-resonator sensor is fabricated using direct laser writing. The design consists of two tapered waveguides that can be directly coupled by single mode fibers, two “Y” splitting waveguides that are combined in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) configuration and a micro-cylinder that evanescently couples with the arms of the MZI. The resonant wavelength shifts in response to the refractive index change in the surrounding medium of the micro-cylinder. The strong interaction between the medium and the whispering gallery mode results in a sensitivity of 154.84 nm/RIU (refractive index units), which demonstrates that such micro-resonators can be used for measurements of refractive index of liquids.

Numerical Analysis of Waveguide Coupling Between Photonic Crystal Fiber and Single-Mode Fiber

A new evanescent-field-based coupler that achieves high coupling efficiency between a single-mode fiber (SMF) and a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is proposed. The coupling equations are presented and a numerical solution is obtained in this letter. Optimization of the refractive index, the effective radius of PCF, and the coupling length can enhance the coupling efficiency. It is shown that a maximum coupling ratio of 93% can be achieved for a coupling length of 1.72 mm for commercially available SMFs and PCFs. The proposed PCF-SMF fiber coupler opens a path for the development of unique modalities for fiber-optic chemical sensors where the light ingress and egress paths can be via SMF, but the light interaction with analytes of interest occurs in the PCF where enhanced evanescent interactions can be obtained at the multiple air holes.

Comparative assessment of erbium fiber ring lasers and reflective SOA linear lasers for fiber Bragg grating dynamic strain sensing

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) dynamic strain sensors using both an erbium-based fiber ring laser configuration and a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA)-based linear laser configuration are investigated theoretically and experimentally. Fiber laser models are first presented to analyze the output characteristics of both fiber laser configurations when the FBG sensor is subjected to dynamic strains at high frequencies. Due to differences in the transition times of erbium and the semiconductor (InP/InGaAsP), erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA)- and RSOA-based fiber lasers exhibit different responses and regimes of stability when the FBG is subjected to dynamic strains. The responses of both systems are experimentally verified using an adaptive photorefractive two-wave mixing (TWM) spectral demodulation technique. The experimental results show that the RSOA-FBG fiber linear cavity laser is stable and can stably respond to dynamic strains at high frequencies. An example application using a multiplexed TWM interferometer to demodulate multiple FBG sensors is also discussed.

Reflective SOA fiber cavity adaptive laser source for measuring dynamic strains

Smart sensors based on Optical fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are suitable for structural health monitoring of dynamic strains in civil, aerospace, and mechanical structures. In these structures, dynamic strains with high frequencies reveal acoustic emissions cracking or impact loading. It is necessary to find a practical tool for monitoring such structural damages. In this work, we explore an intelligent system based on a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA)- FBG composed as a fiber cavity for measuring dynamic strain in intelligent structures. The ASE light emitted from a RSOA laser and reflected by a FBG is amplified in the fiber cavity and coupled out by a 90:10 coupler, which is demodulated by a low frequency compensated Michelson interferometer using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller and is monitored via a photodetector. As the wavelength of the FBG shifts due to dynamic strain, the wavelength of the optical output from the laser cavity shifts accordingly, which is demodulated by the Michelson Interferometer. Because the RSOA has a quick transition time, the RSOA- FBG fiber cavity shows an ability of high frequency response to the FBG reflective spectrum shift, with frequency response extending to megahertz.

Grating based high-frequency ultrasonic sensors

Damage in civil, aerospace, and mechanical structures caused by crack growth and impact loading generate transient ultrasonic waves whose frequency and amplitude can reveal the underlying structural health condition. Hence, it is necessary to find a useful tool based on ultrasonic detection for structural health monitoring. Recently, smart sensors based on gratings such as fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) have been shown to be suitable to detect such acoustic waves in structural health monitoring applications. However, the fiber-based gratings as the ultrasonic sensor has limited sensitivity to high frequency ultrasound detection due to a specific grating length and a finite spectrum width. To eliminate this limitation, one improvement has been made by using phase shift FBGs due to their special filtering characteristics. The phase shift FBGs can have a narrower spectral width, which will significantly improve the detection sensitivity. Another big improvement, for example Bragg grating waveguide (BGW) sensor, is to optimize the grating structure using different materials. In this work, we describe a 3D printed-polymer BGW sensor for ultrasound detection fabricated through a two-photon polymerization process. The design and fabrication have been optimized for high detection sensitivity. The results demonstrate the potential application of BGW devices for high-sensitivity ultrasound detection.

DNT detection using microspheres coated with NaYF4-Yb3+,Er3+-nanocrystals functionalized with PAA/PAH layers

In this paper, we demonstrate the fabrication of a chemical sensor for 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), based on an opticalfiber- microsphere coated with upconversion nanocrystals functionalized with layers of polyelectrolytes - poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). The design consists of a microsphere, which supports whispering-gallery-modes (WGM), coupled to an optical fiber. The NaYF4-Yb3+,Er3+ nanocrystals have a bright fluorescence around 550 nm and 650 nm when irradiated with 980 nm, which is enhanced by the WGM. When functionalized with PAA/PAH layers, these nanocrystals can be coated on the microsphere with control over layer thickness. The presence of DNT on the surface of the microsphere quenches the fluorescence as the absorption spectrum of DNT has peaks in 500 - 600 nm. The effect of concentration of the analyte on the magnitude of quenching has been studied. The paper discusses the design, fabrication and characterization of the chemical sensor.

High-frequency ultrasonic sensor arrays based on optical micro-ring resonators

High-frequency ultrasonic sensors are an important sensing technology in structural health monitoring applications. Compared with the traditional PZT transducer as ultrasonic sensors, novel ultrasonic sensors based on optical methods such as micro-ring resonators have gained increased attention. These micro-rings can be as small as a few microns in diameter, which improves their sensitivity to high-frequency ultrasound. In principle, acoustic waves irradiating the micro-ring induce strain, changing the dimensions and refractive index of the waveguides via the elasto-optic effect. This leads to a change of the guided whispering gallery modes (WGMs), which are extremely sensitive to change in the ring radius induced by the ultrasound strain field. Based on our prior research, here we present an integrated high-frequency ultrasonic sensor array based on optical micro-ring resonator array fabricated by direct laser writing. The fabrication has been optimized to provide high optical quality factor to ensure high detection sensitivity. The experiments demonstrate the potential of the polymer micro-ring resonator working as a high-performance ultrasonic sensor. Applications of the integrated ultrasonic sensor array for acoustic-emission ultrasound detection are shown.