Surface roughness and the sensitivity of D-shaped optical fibre sensors

In this paper, the surface roughness characteristic of D-shaped optical fibre sensors with its effects on the sensitivity has been studied. The ULTRAPOL end and edge polishing system was used with some modifications to fabricate the D-shaped sensors with planar sensing zone from the single-mode optical fibres. The mean surface roughness of 343, 96, 25 and 9?nm was estimated at the sensing zone of the D-shaped sensors which were sequentially polished with 30, 9, 3 and 0.5?µm grit size polishing films, respectively. From the experimental results, it has been observed that surface roughness of the sensing zone does not exhibit the significant effects on the output signal strength, whereas the sensitivity of the D-shaped sensors nonlinearly related with the surface roughness of the sensing zone. The designed D-shaped optical fibre sensors have potential applications in biomedical and chemical industries.     

High-resolution optical angle sensors: approaching the diffraction limit to the sensitivity

We carry out a detailed analysis of angle-sensitive devices based on the critical-angle effect. We consider their use in measuring small angular deflections of a laser beam. We establish the diffraction limit to the sensitivity for optical-angle sensors based on reflection and transmission of a laser beam. We find that this limit is identical to that of the triangulation scheme when using a position-sensitive detector or the autocollimation scheme. We analyze the main proposals to date of optical-angle sensors based on the critical-angle effect, focusing on their maximum sensitivity and their polarization dependence in practical conditions. We propose and analyze theoretically a novel and simple angle-sensitive device for sensing optical-beam deflections with very low polarization dependence and a maximum sensitivity close to the diffraction limit when used with typical laser beams. We discuss the basic principles for designing this type of device, provide numerical results, and point out a convenient fabrication procedure.     

Smart optical sensors for chemical substances based on porous silicon technology

A simple geometry optical sensor based on porous silicon technology is theoretically and experimentally studied. We expose some porous silicon optical microcavities with different porous structures to several substances of environmental interest: Very large red shifts in the single transmission peak in the reflectivity spectrum due to changes in the average refractive index are observed. The phenomenon can be ascribed to capillary condensation of vapor phases in the silicon pores. We numerically compute the peak shifts as a function of the liquid volume fraction condensed into the stack by using the Bruggeman theory. The results presented are promising for vapor and liquid detection and identification.     

Effect of capillary properties on the sensitivity enhancement in capillary/fiber optical sensors

The sensitivity enhancement observed in fluorescence signals when a conventional fiber optical sensor is coupled with a quartz or glass capillary results from the partial reflection of the radiation at the sample/internal wall interface and from the internal reflection of the refracted portion within the capillary wall. Thus, the length and absorbing properties of the capillary as well as the nature of the surrounding medium affect the enhancement significantly. To interpret the dramatic changes in enhancement observed experimentally when the absorbing properties of the capillary were changed, a partial reflective waveguide model is reported.     

A schema for generic process tomography sensors

A schema is introduced that aims to facilitate the widespread exploitation of the science of process tomography (PT) that promises a unique multidimensional sensing opportunity. Although PT has been developed to an advanced state, applications have been laboratory or pilot-plant based, configured on an end-to-end basis, and limited typically to the formation of images that attempt to represent process contents. The schema facilitates the fusion of multidimensional internal process state data in terms of a model that yields directly usable process information, either for design model confirmation or for effective plant monitoring or control, here termed a reality visualization model (RVM). A generic view leads to a taxonomy of process types and their respective RVM. An illustrative example is included and a review of typical sensor system components is given.     

Segmented multimode to dual port slot couplers as compact optical sensors with improved sensitivity

A segmented silicon based multimode to dual port slot structure on silicon-on-insulator platform is proposed which can be used as a refractive-index sensing device. The introduction of segmentation leads to tuning the effective index of the device which results in increasing compactness of the sensing device. Although the structure supporting TM mode is more compact than TE mode, but TE mode is considered here as vertical slots in the output section enhances optical signal in the slots for TE mode only. By considering dual output, the device length is reduced further as dual self-imaging length is less compared to single self-imaging distance for symmetrical multimode section input. The surface sensitivity of the structure has a typical value of～2249?nm/RIU. Relative sensitivity can be calculated from the ratio of field amplitudes of the arms of the dual output. Matrix method and 2D FDTD is used for the entire analysis.?     

Polymer single-nanowire optical sensors

We report highly versatile nanosensors using polymer single nanowires. On the basis of the optical response of waveguiding polymer single nanowires when exposed to specimens, functionalized polymer nanowires are used for humidity sensing with a response time of 30 ms and for NO 2 and NH 3 detection down to subparts-per-million level. The compact and flexible sensing scheme shown here may be attractive for very fast detection in physical, chemical, and biological applications with high sensitivity and small footprint.     

Definition and use of the experimental sensible parameters to characterize sensitivity and precision of a generic oxygen optical sensor

Experimental data, obtained with an oxygen optical sensor constituted by a polysulfone layer embedding ruthenium(II)(4,7-diphenyl-l,l0-phenanthroline)octylsulfate (Ru(dpp)OS), were rationalized by using the digital simulation technique and generalized for different sensors. The experimental, asymmetric, emission shape was used to define two sensible parameters, ASY (asymmetry factor) and DeltaI(%) (percent variation of emission intensity), to characterize the sensitivity of a generic oxygen optical sensor (represented by the Stern-Volmer constant, K'(sv)). Correlations between ASY and K'(sv) and between DeltaI(%) and K'(sv) were established, and a double working curve was proposed to evaluate with a single light emission measurement the K'(sv) value with the best precision. Sensitive membranes (-log K'(sv) = pK'(sv) < 0.5) had high precision only for low %O(2) values; poorly sensitive membrane (pK'(sv)> 2.5) had constant but scarce precisions in a large %O(2) interval. For %O(2) up to 21% (air) good values are pK'(sv)= 0.5-1.0. In order to monitor a wider %O(2) range, pK'(sv) = 1.5-2.0 are good choices. A simple mathematical model allowed one to estimate the oxygen diffusion coefficient inside the layer, D(O2), and its solubility in the polymer matrix, s(O2), from the simple measurement of the membrane thickness, response time, t(90), and luminescence lifetime. D(O2) = 2 x 10(-8) cm2 s(-1) and s(O2) = 2.2 x 10(-3) mol atm(-1) dm(-3) [corrected] were estimated for our membranes. The proposed working curves gave very good results even with literature data.     

On the relationship between the optical transmission and photoluminescence characteristics of porous silicon

The characteristics of free-standing porous silicon (por-Si) films were studied using their optical transmission, photoluminescence (PL), and photoluminescence excitation spectra. The transmission spectra exhibit no features within the emission bands or near PL excitation thresholds, which is evidence that nonluminescent por-Si fragments play a dominating role in the process of light absorption. This fact indicates that the optical transmission spectra cannot be used as a source of information on the bandgap energy of charge carriers in luminescent silicon nanocrystallites. The required energy spectrum parameters can be roughly evaluated using the PL excitation spectrum.     

The potential of porous silicon gas sensors

Recent developments in porous silicon gas sensors have been reviewed. Monitored species detection levels, and the mechanisms of sensing for different sensor designs are also discussed. Porous silicon surface modification methods have been employed for detecting different gas molecules; H₂O, ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, CO_x, NO_x, NH₃, O₂, H₂, HCl, SO₂, H₂S and PH₃.     

Characterization and simulation of optical sensors

Numerical simulation is gradually becoming an advantage in active safety. This is why the development of realistic numerical models enabling to substitute real truth by simulated truth is primordial. In order to provide an accurate and cost effective solution to simulate real optical sensor behavior, the software Pro-SiVIC™ has been developed. Simulations with the software Pro-SiVIC™ can replace real tests with optical sensors and hence allow substantial cost and time savings during the development of solutions for driver assistance systems. An optical platform has been developed by IFSTTAR (French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Development and Networks) to characterize and validate any existing camera, in order to measure their characteristics as distortion, vignetting, focal length, etc. By comparing real and simulated sensors with this platform, this paper demonstrates that Pro-SiVIC™ accurately reproduces real sensors’ behavior.     

Grating-assisted demodulation of interferometric optical sensors

Accurate and dynamic control of the operating point of an interferometric optical sensor to produce the highest sensitivity is crucial in the demodulation of interferometric optical sensors to compensate for manufacturing errors and environmental perturbations. A grating-assisted operating-point tuning system has been designed that uses a diffraction grating and feedback control, functions as a tunable-bandpass optical filter, and can be used as an effective demodulation subsystem in sensor systems based on optical interferometers that use broadband light sources. This demodulation method has no signal-detection bandwidth limit, a high tuning speed, a large tunable range, increased interference fringe contrast, and the potential for absolute optical-path-difference measurement. The achieved 40-nm tuning range, which is limited by the available source spectrum width, 400-nm/s tuning speed, and a step resolution of 0.4 nm, is sufficient for most practical measurements. A significant improvement in signal-to-noise ratio in a fiber Fabry-Perot acoustic-wave sensor system proved that the expected fringe contrast and sensitivity increase.     

Reflection intensity optical fiber sensors for the mid-infrared

Two kinds of reflection intensity sensor made of chalcogenide glass fiber for the mid-IR region are demonstrated. One is a double-fiber reflection sensor based on two tied fibers with a gold-coated hollow metal waveguide connected to the far end of the fibers. The other is a single-fiber reflection sensor based on contact couplers. These reflectance sensors were coupled to a Fourier-transform IR spectrometer by a unique accessory based on nonimaging concentrators. This setup was built to measure absorption spectra of a polymer coating of an aluminum can and a sheet of drafting paper. A theoretical model treating the ratio between the signal from the target and the background is introduced. This model was helpful in deriving the sensitivity characteristics of the sensors from experimental absorption peak heights. Hence, the absorption peaks heights that we obtained using a single-fiber reflection sensor with a symmetric coupler were nearly 50% relative to those obtained with a double-fiber reflection sensor.     

Thin-film optical sensors with silicon-compatible materials

Antireflection filters based on multilayer stacks of dielectric and polysilicon films on monocrystalline silicon combined with charge collection in different (poly)Si layers can be used to realize sensors with a programmable spectral response controlled by weighted summing of the photocurrents detected in the polysilicon and the substrate. Thus, employing both interference and selective absorption of light yields increased photoelectric efficiency and improved flexibility of spectral control and enables on-chip integration of the detector(s) with the signal conditioning and processing circuits. The potential of thin-film color sensors has been evaluated for this purpose. However, for practical implementation of such structures the problems associated with the realization of reliable photodetectors in polysilicon must also be considered. Phosphorus passivation of the grain-boundary states has been employed to yield polysilicon photodiodes with improved electrical characteristics and reliable light and color detection. We present the design methods of thin-film color sensors employing silicon-compatible materials only. The measurement results of a fabricated structure fully demonstrate that such sensors can be realized with good spectral selectivity.     

Responses of simple optical standing wave sensors

Optical standing wave sensors have been manufactured by amorphous silicon deposition. The responses of these sensors, when subjected to standing waves, have been calculated and measured. It is shown that the responses are different depending on the way the standing wave is created. The responses also depend on the thickness and material properties of the layers used to create the sensors. Quantitative agreement between measurements and model calculations can be obtained by including alignment errors, incoherent light interaction and scaling factors. The simple construction of the sensors allows for a broad application range.     

Multi-encoded rugate porous silicon as nerve agents sensors

The nanostructured rugate porous silicons (PSi) containing multiple photonic band gaps have been generated by an electrochemical etching through applying a composite waveform summed three computer-generated pseudo-sinusoidal current waveforms. They exhibit three sharp photonic band gaps in the optical reflectivity spectrum, corresponding to the each of the sine components varied from 0.42, 0.36, and 0.30 Hz, with a spacing of 0.06 Hz between each sine component. The sensing experiments using multi-encoded rugate PSi for the detection of nerve agents such as triethyl phosphate (TEP), diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP), dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), and diethyl ethylphosphonate (DEEP) have been achieved. Capillary condensation in the pores causes the reflectivity of rugate PSi to shift to longer wavelengths due to an increase in refractive indices of the porous medium.     

Enhancement in sensitivity for fiber-optic torsion sensors

We demonstrate a simple fiber-optic torsion sensor with enhanced sensitivity. The sensor is based on the combination of a Malus and a Fabry-Perot (MFP) interferometer and allows for the sensitive detection of changes in the polarization of the guided beam due to torsion applied to the fiber. The basic idea behind this optical arrangement is to enhance the sensitivity for the measurements of intracavity anisotropies due to multiple passes of the beam through the sensing area. Theoretical analysis based on Jones calculus for a fiber-optic MFP interferometer shows that small twists in the fiber can be monitored through variations on the transmission of the arrangement. Experimental results with a hybrid MFP arrangement of bulk optical components and optical fibers show that, compared to single-pass polarimeter measurements, an enhancement in sensitivity up to 116 can be effectively achieved.     

ZnO多孔纳米固体厚膜气敏传感器的制备和性质表征

以ZnO纳米粉(平均粒径30nm)为原料,利用水热热压方法制备了多孔的ZnO体块纳米固体,测试了以多孔纳米固体为原料制成的厚膜气敏传感器对挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)乙醇、丙酮、苯、甲苯和二甲苯蒸气的气敏特性,并与用ZnO纳米粉制备的厚膜传感器进行了比较.结果发现,与ZnO纳米粉相比,用ZnO多孔纳米固体制备的厚膜传感器在空气中的电阻大大减小,最佳敏感温度降低、响应时间和恢复时间大大缩短.通过综合分析ZnO纳米粉和ZnO多孔纳米固体的XRD、TEM及厚膜传感器的SEM测试结果研究了厚膜传感器气敏特性的差异.