Inspection of the interior surface of cylindrical vessels using optic fiber shearography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Bin; Wei, Quan; Tu, Jun; Arola, Dwayne D.; Zhang, Dongsheng

2017-09-01

In this study, a shearography system integrated with a coherent fiber-optic illumination and a fiber-optic imaging bundle is presented to inspect the quality of the interior surface of a cylindrical vessel for safety purposes. The specific optical arrangement is designed for the inspection of a certain area at a small working distance. The optical arrangement of the system was assembled and an aluminum honeycomb sample was evaluated to demonstrate the capability of the system. The important relationship between the image quality and the working distance, as well as the field of view, is discussed. The system has been applied for the inspection of the interior surface of a cylindrical vessel. The experimental results suggest that the shearography system integrated with optical and image fibers can effectively minimize the size of the inspection device and be capable of evaluating the interior surface of cylindrical structures.

Optic probe for multiple angle image capture and optional stereo imaging

DOEpatents

Malone, Robert M.; Kaufman, Morris I.

2016-11-29

A probe including a multiple lens array is disclosed to measure velocity distribution of a moving surface along many lines of sight. Laser light, directed to the moving surface is reflected back from the surface and is Doppler shifted, collected into the array, and then directed to detection equipment through optic fibers. The received light is mixed with reference laser light and using photonic Doppler velocimetry, a continuous time record of the surface movement is obtained. An array of single-mode optical fibers provides an optic signal to the multiple lens array. Numerous fibers in a fiber array project numerous rays to establish many measurement points at numerous different locations. One or more lens groups may be replaced with imaging lenses so a stereo image of the moving surface can be recorded. Imaging a portion of the surface during initial travel can determine whether the surface is breaking up.

Tunable optofluidic microring laser based on a tapered hollow core microstructured optical fiber.

PubMed

Li, Zhi-Li; Zhou, Wen-Yuan; Luo, Ming-Ming; Liu, Yan-Ge; Tian, Jian-Guo

2015-04-20

A tunable optofluidic microring dye laser within a tapered hollow core microstructured optical fiber was demonstrated. The fiber core was filled with a microfluidic gain medium plug and axially pumped by a nanosecond pulse laser at 532 nm. Strong radial emission and low-threshold lasing (16 nJ/pulse) were achieved. Lasing was achieved around the surface of the microfluidic plug. Laser emission was tuned by changing the liquid surface location along the tapered fiber. The possibility of developing a tunable laser within the tapered simplified hollow core microstructured optical fiber presents opportunities for developing liquid surface position sensors and biomedical analysis.

Method and apparatus for monitoring and measuring the surface tension of a fluid using fiber optics

DOEpatents

Abraham, Bernard M.; Ketterson, John B.; Bohanon, Thomas M.; Mikrut, John M.

1994-01-01

A non-contact method and apparatus for measuring and monitoring the surface of a fluid using fiber optics and interferometric detection to permit measurement mechanical characteristics' fluid surfaces. The apparatus employs an alternating electric field gradient for generating a capillary wave on the surface of the fluid. A fiber optic coupler and optical fiber directs a portion of a laser beam onto the surface of the fluid, another portion of the laser beam onto the photo sensor, and directs light reflected from the surface of the fluid onto the photo sensor. The output of the photo sensor is processed and coupled to a phase sensitive detector to permit measurement of phase shift between the drive signal creating the capillary wave and the detected signal. This phase shift information is then used to determine mechanical properties of the fluid surface such as surface tension, surface elasticity, and surface inhomogeneity. The resulting test structure is easily made compact, portable, and easy to align and use.

Optical fiber strain sensor with improved linearity range

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Egalon, Claudio Oliveira (Inventor); Rogowski, Robert S. (Inventor)

1995-01-01

A strain sensor is constructed from a two mode optical fiber. When the optical fiber is surface mounted in a straight line and the object to which the optical fiber is mounted is subjected to strain within a predetermined range, the light intensity of any point at the output of the optical fiber will have a linear relationship to strain, provided the intermodal phase difference is less than 0.17 radians.

Fiber optic-based biosensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ligler, Frances S.

1991-01-01

The NRL fiber optic biosensor is a device which measures the formation of a fluorescent complex at the surface of an optical fiber. Antibodies and DNA binding proteins provide the mechanism for recognizing an analyze and immobilizing a fluorescent complex on the fiber surface. The fiber optic biosensor is fast, sensitive, and permits analysis of hazardous materials remote from the instrumentation. The fiber optic biosensor is described in terms of the device configuration, chemistry for protein immobilization, and assay development. A lab version is being used for assay development and performance characterization while a portable device is under development. Antibodies coated on the fiber are stable for up to two years of storage prior to use. The fiber optic biosensor was used to measure concentration of toxins in the parts per billion (ng/ml) range in under a minute. Immunoassays for small molecules and whole bacteria are under development. Assays using DNA probes as the detection element can also be used with the fiber optic sensor, which is currently being developed to detect biological warfare agents, explosives, pathogens, and toxic materials which pollute the environment.

Thermal Strain Analysis of Optic Fiber Sensors

PubMed Central

Her, Shiuh-Chuan; Huang, Chih-Ying

2013-01-01

An optical fiber sensor surface bonded onto a host structure and subjected to a temperature change is analytically studied in this work. The analysis is developed in order to assess the thermal behavior of an optical fiber sensor designed for measuring the strain in the host structure. For a surface bonded optical fiber sensor, the measuring sensitivity is strongly dependent on the bonding characteristics which include the protective coating, adhesive layer and the bonding length. Thermal stresses can be generated due to a mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients between the optical fiber and host structure. The optical fiber thermal strain induced by the host structure is transferred via the adhesive layer and protective coating. In this investigation, an analytical expression of the thermal strain and stress in the optical fiber is presented. The theoretical predictions are validated using the finite element method. Numerical results show that the thermal strain and stress are linearly dependent on the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the optical fiber and host structure and independent of the thermal expansion coefficients of the adhesive and coating. PMID:23385407

Optical Fiber Chemical Sensor with Sol-Gel Derived Refractive Material as Transducer for High Temperature Gas Sensing in Clean Coal Technology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shiquan Tao

2006-12-31

The chemistry of sol-gel derived silica and refractive metal oxide has been systematically studied. Sol-gel processes have been developed for preparing porous silica and semiconductor metal oxide materials. Micelle/reversed micelle techniques have been developed for preparing nanometer sized semiconductor metal oxides and noble metal particles. Techniques for doping metal ions, metal oxides and nanosized metal particles into porous sol-gel material have also been developed. Optical properties of sol-gel derived materials in ambient and high temperature gases have been studied by using fiber optic spectroscopic techniques, such as fiber optic ultraviolet/visible absorption spectrometry, fiber optic near infrared absorption spectrometry and fibermore » optic fluorescence spectrometry. Fiber optic spectrometric techniques have been developed for investigating the optical properties of these sol-gel derived materials prepared as porous optical fibers or as coatings on the surface of silica optical fibers. Optical and electron microscopic techniques have been used to observe the microstructure, such as pore size, pore shape, sensing agent distribution, of sol-gel derived material, as well as the size and morphology of nanometer metal particle doped in sol-gel derived porous silica, the nature of coating of sol-gel derived materials on silica optical fiber surface. In addition, the chemical reactions of metal ion, nanostructured semiconductor metal oxides and nanometer sized metal particles with gas components at room temperature and high temperatures have also been investigated with fiber optic spectrometric methods. Three classes of fiber optic sensors have been developed based on the thorough investigation of sol-gel chemistry and sol-gel derived materials. The first group of fiber optic sensors uses porous silica optical fibers doped with metal ions or metal oxide as transducers for sensing trace NH{sub 3} and H{sub 2}S in high temperature gas samples. The second group of fiber optic sensors uses sol-gel derived porous silica materials doped with nanometer particles of noble metals in the form of fiber or coating for sensing trace H{sub 2}, NH{sub 3} and HCl in gas samples at for applications ambient temperature. The third classes of fiber optic sensors use sol-gel derived semiconductor metal oxide coating on the surface of silica optical fiber as transducers for selectively sensing H{sub 2}, CH{sub 4} and CO at high temperature. In addition, optical fiber temperature sensors use the fluorescence signal of rare-earth metal ions doped porous silica optical fiber or the optical absorption signal of thermochromic metal oxide materials coated on the surface of silica optical fibers have also been developed for monitoring gas temperature of corrosive gas. Based on the results obtained from this project, the principle of fiber optic sensor techniques for monitoring matrix gas components as well as trace components of coal gasification derived syngas has been established. Prototype sensors for sensing trace ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in gasification derived syngas have been built up in our laboratory and have been tested using gas samples with matrix gas composition similar to that of gasification derived fuel gas. Test results illustrated the feasibility of these sensors for applications in IGCC processes.« less

Extracting Optical Fiber Background from Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Spectra Based on Bi-Objective Optimization Modeling.

PubMed

Huang, Jie; Shi, Tielin; Tang, Zirong; Zhu, Wei; Liao, Guanglan; Li, Xiaoping; Gong, Bo; Zhou, Tengyuan

2017-08-01

We propose a bi-objective optimization model for extracting optical fiber background from the measured surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectrum of the target sample in the application of fiber optic SERS. The model is built using curve fitting to resolve the SERS spectrum into several individual bands, and simultaneously matching some resolved bands with the measured background spectrum. The Pearson correlation coefficient is selected as the similarity index and its maximum value is pursued during the spectral matching process. An algorithm is proposed, programmed, and demonstrated successfully in extracting optical fiber background or fluorescence background from the measured SERS spectra of rhodamine 6G (R6G) and crystal violet (CV). The proposed model not only can be applied to remove optical fiber background or fluorescence background for SERS spectra, but also can be transferred to conventional Raman spectra recorded using fiber optic instrumentation.

Silicon fiber optic sensors

DOEpatents

Pocha, Michael D.; Swierkowski, Steve P.; Wood, Billy E.

2007-10-02

A Fabry-Perot cavity is formed by a partially or wholly reflective surface on the free end of an integrated elongate channel or an integrated bounding wall of a chip of a wafer and a partially reflective surface on the end of the optical fiber. Such a constructed device can be utilized to detect one or more physical parameters, such as, for example, strain, through the optical fiber using an optical detection system to provide measuring accuracies of less than aboutb0.1%.

Nondestructive surface analysis for material research using fiber optic vibrational spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afanasyeva, Natalia I.

2001-11-01

The advanced methods of fiber optical vibrational spectroscopy (FOVS) has been developed in conjunction with interferometer and low-loss, flexible, and nontoxic optical fibers, sensors, and probes. The combination of optical fibers and sensors with Fourier Transform (FT) spectrometer has been used in the range from 2.5 to 12micrometers . This technique serves as an ideal diagnostic tool for surface analysis of numerous and various diverse materials such as complex structured materials, fluids, coatings, implants, living cells, plants, and tissue. Such surfaces as well as living tissue or plants are very difficult to investigate in vivo by traditional FT infrared or Raman spectroscopy methods. The FOVS technique is nondestructive, noninvasive, fast (15 sec) and capable of operating in remote sampling regime (up to a fiber length of 3m). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman fiber optic spectroscopy operating with optical fibers has been suggested as a new powerful tool. These techniques are highly sensitive techniques for structural studies in material research and various applications during process analysis to determine molecular composition, chemical bonds, and molecular conformations. These techniques could be developed as a new tool for quality control of numerous materials as well as noninvasive biopsy.

Fiber Surface Modification Technology for Fiber-Optic Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensors

PubMed Central

Zhang, Qiang; Xue, Chenyang; Yuan, Yanling; Lee, Junyang; Sun, Dong; Xiong, Jijun

2012-01-01

Considerable studies have been performed on the development of optical fiber sensors modified by gold nanoparticles based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) technique. The current paper presents a new approach in fiber surface modification technology for biosensors. Star-shaped gold nanoparticles obtained through the seed-mediated solution growth method were found to self-assemble on the surface of tapered optical fibers via amino- and mercapto-silane coupling agents. Transmitted power spectra of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxy silane (APTMS)-modified fiber were obtained, which can verify that the silane coupling agent surface modification method is successful. Transmission spectra are characterized in different concentrations of ethanol and gentian violet solutions to validate the sensitivity of the modified fiber. Assembly using star-shaped gold nanoparticles and amino/mercapto silane coupling agent are analyzed and compared. The transmission spectra of the gold nanoparticles show that the nanoparticles are sensitive to the dielectric properties of the surrounding medium. After the fibers are treated in t-dodecylmercaptan to obtain their transmission spectra, APTMS-modified fiber becomes less sensitive to different media, except that modified by 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxy silane (MPTMS). Experimental results of the transmission spectra show that the surface modified by the gold nanoparticles using MPTMS is firmer compared to that obtained using APTMS. PMID:22736974

Optical fiber immunosensor based on a poly(pyrrole-benzophenone) film for the detection of antibodies to viral antigen.

PubMed

Konry, T; Novoa, A; Shemer-Avni, Y; Hanuka, N; Cosnier, S; Lepellec, Arielle; Marks, R S

2005-03-15

We describe herein a newly developed optical microbiosensor for the diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by using a novel photoimmobilization methodology based on a photoactivable electrogenerated polymer film deposited upon surface-conductive fiber optics, which are then used to link a biological receptor to the fiber tip through light mediation. This fiber-optic electroconductive surface modification is done by the deposition of a thin layer of indium tin oxide on the silica surface of the fiber optics. Monomers are then electropolymerized onto the conductive metal oxide surface; thereafter, the fibers are immersed in a solution containing HCV-E2 envelope protein antigen and illuminated with UV light (wavelength approximately 345 nm). As a result of the photochemical reaction, a thin layer of the antigen becomes covalently bound to the benzophenone-modified surface. The photochemically modified fiber optics were tested as immunosensors for the detection of anti-E2 protein antibody analyte that was measured through chemiluminescence reaction. The biosensor was tested for sensitivity, specificity, and overall practicality. Our results suggest that the detection of anti-E2 antibodies with this microbiosensor may enhance significantly HCV serological standard testing especially among patients during dialysis, which were diagnosed as HCV negative, by standard immunological tests, but were known to carry the virus. If transformed into an easy to use procedure, this assay might be used in the future as an important clinical tool for HCV screening in blood banks.

Nanoimprinting on optical fiber end faces for chemical sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostovski, G.; White, D. J.; Mitchell, A.; Austin, M. W.; Stoddart, P. R.

2008-04-01

Optical fiber surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors offer a potential solution to monitoring low chemical concentrations in-situ or in remote sensing scenarios. We demonstrate the use of nanoimprint lithography to fabricate SERS-compatible nanoarrays on the end faces of standard silica optical fibers. The antireflective nanostructure found on cicada wings was used as a convenient template for the nanoarray, as high sensitivity SERS substrates have previously been demonstrated on these surfaces. Coating the high fidelity replicas with silver creates a dense array of regular nanoscale plasmonic resonators. A monolayer of thiophenol was used as a low concentration analyte, from which strong Raman spectra were collected using both direct endface illumination and through-fiber interrogation. This unique combination of nanoscale replication with optical fibers demonstrates a high-resolution, low-cost approach to fabricating high-performance optical fiber chemical sensors.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kidane, Getnet S; Desilva, Upul P.; He, Chengli

A gas turbine includes first and second parts having outer surfaces located adjacent to each other to create an interface where wear occurs. A wear probe is provided for monitoring wear of the outer surface of the first part, and includes an optical guide having first and second ends, wherein the first end is configured to be located flush with the outer surface of the first part. A fiber bundle includes first and second ends, the first end being located proximate to the second end of the optical guide. The fiber bundle includes a transmit fiber bundle comprising a firstmore » plurality of optical fibers coupled to a light source, and a receive fiber bundle coupled to a light detector and configured to detect reflected light. A processor is configured to determine a length of the optical guide based on the detected reflected light.« less

Method and apparatus for monitoring and measuring the surface tension of a fluid using fiber optics

DOEpatents

Abraham, B.M.; Ketterson, J.B.; Bohanon, T.M.; Mikrut, J.M.

1994-04-12

A non-contact method and apparatus are described for measuring and monitoring the surface of a fluid using fiber optics and interferometric detection to permit measurement of mechanical characteristics of fluid surfaces. The apparatus employs an alternating electric field gradient for generating a capillary wave on the surface of the fluid. A fiber optic coupler and optical fiber directs a portion of a laser beam onto the surface of the fluid, another portion of the laser beam onto the photo sensor, and directs light reflected from the surface of the fluid onto the photo sensor. The output of the photo sensor is processed and coupled to a phase sensitive detector to permit measurement of phase shift between the drive signal creating the capillary wave and the detected signal. This phase shift information is then used to determine mechanical properties of the fluid surface such as surface tension, surface elasticity, and surface inhomogeneity. The resulting test structure is easily made compact, portable, and easy to align and use. 4 figures.

Pressure-sensitive optrode

DOEpatents

Hirschfeld, T.B.

1985-04-09

An apparatus and method are disclosed for sensing changes in pressure and for generating optical signals related to changes in pressure. Light from a fiber optic is directed to a movable surface which is coated with a light-responsive material, and which moves relative to the end of the fiber optic in response to changes in pressure. The same fiber optic collects a portion of the reflected or emitted light from the movable surface. Changes in pressure are determined by measuring changes in the amount of light collected. 5 figs.

Surface plasmon resonance based fiber optic detection of chlorine utilizing polyvinylpyrolidone supported zinc oxide thin films.

PubMed

Tabassum, Rana; Gupta, Banshi D

2015-03-21

A highly sensitive chlorine sensor for an aqueous medium is fabricated using an optical fiber surface plasmon resonance (OFSPR) system. An OFSPR-based chlorine sensor is designed with a multilayer-type platform by zinc oxide (ZnO) and polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP) film morphology manipulations. Among all the methodologies of transduction reported in the field of solid state chemical and biochemical sensing, our attention is focused on the Kretschmann configuration optical fiber sensing technique using the mechanism of surface plasmon resonance. The optical fiber surface plasmon resonance (SPR) chlorine sensor is developed using a multimode optical fiber with the PVP-supported ZnO film deposited over a silver-coated unclad core of the fiber. A spectral interrogation mode of operation is used to characterize the sensor. In an Ag/ZnO/PVP multilayer system, the absorption of chlorine in the vicinity of the sensing region is performed by the PVP layer and the zinc oxide layer enhances the shift in resonance wavelength. It is, experimentally, demonstrated that the SPR wavelength shifts nonlinearly towards the red side of the visible region with an increase in the chlorine concentration in an aqueous medium while the sensitivity of the sensor decreases linearly with an increase in the chlorine concentration. As the proposed sensor utilizes an optical fiber, it possesses the additional advantages of fiber such as less signal degradation, less susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, possibility of remote sensing, probe miniaturization, probe re-usability, online monitoring, small size, light weight and low cost.

High-temperature effects on the light transmission through sapphire optical fiber

DOE PAGES

Wilson, Brandon A.; Petrie, Christian M.; Blue, Thomas E.

2018-03-13

Single crystal sapphire optical fiber was tested at high temperatures (1500°C) to determine its suitability for optical instrumentation in high-temperature environments. Broadband light transmission (450-2300 nm) through sapphire fiber was measured as a function of temperature as a test of the fiber's ability to survive and operate in high-temperature environments. Upon heating sapphire fiber to 1400°C, large amounts of light attenuation were measured across the entire range of light wavelengths that were tested. SEM and TEM images of the heated sapphire fiber indicated that a layer had formed at the surface of the fiber, most likely due to a chemicalmore » change at high temperatures. The microscopy results suggest that the surface layer may be in the form of aluminum hydroxide. Subsequent tests of sapphire fiber in an inert atmosphere showed minimal light attenuation at high temperatures along with the elimination of any surface layers on the fiber, indicating that the air atmosphere is indeed responsible for the increased attenuation and surface layer formation at high temperatures.« less

High-temperature effects on the light transmission through sapphire optical fiber

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilson, Brandon A.; Petrie, Christian M.; Blue, Thomas E.

Single crystal sapphire optical fiber was tested at high temperatures (1500°C) to determine its suitability for optical instrumentation in high-temperature environments. Broadband light transmission (450-2300 nm) through sapphire fiber was measured as a function of temperature as a test of the fiber's ability to survive and operate in high-temperature environments. Upon heating sapphire fiber to 1400°C, large amounts of light attenuation were measured across the entire range of light wavelengths that were tested. SEM and TEM images of the heated sapphire fiber indicated that a layer had formed at the surface of the fiber, most likely due to a chemicalmore » change at high temperatures. The microscopy results suggest that the surface layer may be in the form of aluminum hydroxide. Subsequent tests of sapphire fiber in an inert atmosphere showed minimal light attenuation at high temperatures along with the elimination of any surface layers on the fiber, indicating that the air atmosphere is indeed responsible for the increased attenuation and surface layer formation at high temperatures.« less

Protective coating and hyperthermal atomic oxygen texturing of optical fibers used for blood glucose monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, Bruce A. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

Disclosed is a method of producing cones and pillars on polymethylmethacralate (PMMA) optical fibers for glucose monitoring. The method, in one embodiment, consists of using electron beam evaporation to deposit a non-contiguous thin film of aluminum on the distal ends of the PMMA fibers. The partial coverage of aluminum on the fibers is randomly, but rather uniformly distributed across the end of the optical fibers. After the aluminum deposition, the ends of the fibers are then exposed to hyperthermal atomic oxygen, which oxidizes the areas that are not protected by aluminum. The resulting PMMA fibers have a greatly increased surface area and the cones or pillars are sufficiently close together that the cellular components in blood are excluded from passing into the valleys between the cones and pillars. The optical fibers are then coated with appropriated surface chemistry so that they can optically sense the glucose level in the blood sample than that with conventional glucose monitoring.

Trapping and Propelling Microparticles at Long Range by Using an Entirely Stripped and Slightly Tapered No-Core Optical Fiber

PubMed Central

Sheu, Fang-Wen; Huang, Yen-Si

2013-01-01

A stripped no-core optical fiber with a 125 μm diameter was transformed into a symmetric and unbroken optical fiber that tapers slightly to a 45-μm-diameter waist. The laser light can be easily launched into the no-core optical fiber. The enhanced evanescent wave of the slightly tapered no-core optical fiber can attract nearby 5-μm-diameter polystyrene microparticles onto the surface of the tapered multimode optical fiber within fast flowing fluid and propel the trapped particles in the direction of the light propagation to longer delivery range than is possible using a slightly tapered telecom single-mode optical fiber. PMID:23449118

Trapping and propelling microparticles at long range by using an entirely stripped and slightly tapered no-core optical fiber.

PubMed

Sheu, Fang-Wen; Huang, Yen-Si

2013-02-28

A stripped no-core optical fiber with a 125 µm diameter was transformed into a symmetric and unbroken optical fiber that tapers slightly to a 45-µm-diameter waist. The laser light can be easily launched into the no-core optical fiber. The enhanced evanescent wave of the slightly tapered no-core optical fiber can attract nearby 5-µm-diameter polystyrene microparticles onto the surface of the tapered multimode optical fiber within fast flowing fluid and propel the trapped particles in the direction of the light propagation to longer delivery range than is possible using a slightly tapered telecom single-mode optical fiber.

Actively stabilized optical fiber interferometry technique for online/in-process surface measurement.

PubMed

Wang, Kaiwei; Martin, Haydn; Jiang, Xiangqian

2008-02-01

In this paper, we report the recent progress in optical-beam scanning fiber interferometry for potential online nanoscale surface measurement based on the previous research. It attempts to generate a robust and miniature measurement device for future development into a multiprobe array measurement system. In this research, both fiber-optic-interferometry and the wavelength-division-multiplexing techniques have been used, so that the optical probe and the optical interferometer are well spaced and fast surface scanning can be carried out, allowing flexibility for online measurement. In addition, this system provides a self-reference signal to stabilize the optical detection with high common-mode noise suppression by adopting an active phase tracking and stabilization technique. Low-frequency noise was significantly reduced compared with unstabilized result. The measurement of a sample surface shows an attained repeatability of 3.3 nm.

Optical apparatus for laser scattering by objects having complex shapes

DOEpatents

Ellingson, William A.; Visher, Robert J.

2006-11-14

Apparatus for observing and measuring in realtime surface and subsurface characteristics of objects having complex shapes includes an optical fiber bundle having first and second opposed ends. The first end includes a linear array of fibers, where the ends of adjacent fibers are in contact and are aligned perpendicular to the surface of the object being studied. The second ends of some of the fibers are in the form of a polished ferrule forming a multi-fiber optical waveguide for receiving laser light. The second ends of the remaining fibers are formed into a linear array suitable for direct connection to a detector, such as a linear CMOS-based optical detector. The output data is analyzed using digital signal processing for the detection of anomalies such as cracks, voids, inclusions and other defects.

Comparison of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) from Fiber-Optic Cable to Three Component Geophones in an Underground Mine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Speece, M. A.; Nesladek, N. J.; Kammerer, C.; Maclaughlin, M.; Wang, H. F.; Lord, N. E.

2017-12-01

We conducted experiments in the Underground Education Mining Center on the Montana Tech campus, Butte, Montana, to make a direct comparison between Digital Acoustic Sensing (DAS) and three-component geophones in a mining setting. The sources used for this project where a vertical sledgehammer, oriented shear sledgehammer, and blasting caps set off in both unstemmed and stemmed drillholes. Three-component Geospace 20DM geophones were compared with three different types of fiber-optic cable: (1) Brugg strain, (2) Brugg temperature, and (3) Optical Cable Corporation strain. We attached geophones to the underground mine walls and on the ground surface above the mine. We attached fiber-optic cables to the mine walls and placed fiber-optic cable in boreholes drilled through an underground pillar. In addition, we placed fiber-optic cables in a shallow trench at the surface of the mine. We converted the DAS recordings from strain rate to strain prior to comparison with the geophone data. The setup of the DAS system for this project led to a previously unknown triggering problem that compromised the early samples of the DAS traces often including the first-break times on the DAS records. Geophones clearly recorded the explosives; however, the large amount of energy and its close distance from the fiber-optic cables seemed to compromise the entire fiber loop. The underground hammer sources produced a rough match between the DAS records and the geophone records. However, the sources on the surface of the mine, specifically the sources oriented inline with the fiber-optic cables, produced a close match between the fiber-optic traces and the geophone traces. All three types of fiber-optic cable that were in the mine produced similar results, and one type did not clearly outperform the others. Instead, the coupling of the cable to rock appears to be the most important factor determining DAS data quality. Moreover, we observed the importance of coupling in the boreholes, where fiber-optic cables that were pressed against the rock face with a spacer outperformed fiber-optic cables that were fully embedded within the grout filling the inside of the borehole.

Photonic Doppler velocimetry lens array probe incorporating stereo imaging

DOEpatents

Malone, Robert M.; Kaufman, Morris I.

2015-09-01

A probe including a multiple lens array is disclosed to measure velocity distribution of a moving surface along many lines of sight. Laser light, directed to the moving surface is reflected back from the surface and is Doppler shifted, collected into the array, and then directed to detection equipment through optic fibers. The received light is mixed with reference laser light and using photonic Doppler velocimetry, a continuous time record of the surface movement is obtained. An array of single-mode optical fibers provides an optic signal to the multiple lens array. Numerous fibers in a fiber array project numerous rays to establish many measurement points at numerous different locations. One or more lens groups may be replaced with imaging lenses so a stereo image of the moving surface can be recorded. Imaging a portion of the surface during initial travel can determine whether the surface is breaking up.

Using a slightly tapered optical fiber to attract and transport microparticles.

PubMed

Sheu, Fang-Wen; Wu, Hong-Yu; Chen, Sy-Hann

2010-03-15

We exploit a fiber puller to transform a telecom single-mode optical fiber with a 125 microm diameter into a symmetric and unbroken slightly tapered optical fiber with a 50 microm diameter at the minimum waist. When the laser light is launched into the optical fiber, we can observe that, due to the evanescent wave of the slightly tapered fiber, the nearby polystyrene microparticles with 10 microm diameters will be attracted onto the fiber surface and roll separately in the direction of light propagation. We have also simulated and compared the optical propulsion effects on the microparticles when the laser light is launched into a slightly tapered fiber and a heavily tapered (subwavelength) fiber, respectively.

U-Shaped and Surface Functionalized Polymer Optical Fiber Probe for Glucose Detection.

PubMed

Azkune, Mikel; Ruiz-Rubio, Leire; Aldabaldetreku, Gotzon; Arrospide, Eneko; Pérez-Álvarez, Leyre; Bikandi, Iñaki; Zubia, Joseba; Vilas-Vilela, Jose Luis

2017-12-25

In this work we show an optical fiber evanescent wave absorption probe for glucose detection in different physiological media. High selectivity is achieved by functionalizing the surface of an only-core poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer optical fiber with phenilboronic groups, and enhanced sensitivity by using a U-shaped geometry. Employing a supercontinuum light source and a high-resolution spectrometer, absorption measurements are performed in the broadband visible light spectrum. Experimental results suggest the feasibility of such a fiber probe as a low-cost and selective glucose detector.

Optofluidic in-fiber interferometer based on hollow optical fiber with two cores.

PubMed

Yuan, Tingting; Yang, Xinghua; Liu, Zhihai; Yang, Jun; Li, Song; Kong, Depeng; Qi, Xiuxiu; Yu, Wenting; Long, Qunlong; Yuan, Libo

2017-07-24

We demonstrate a novel integrated optical fiber interferometer for in-fiber optofluidic detection. It is composed of a specially designed hollow optical fiber with a micro-channel and two cores. One core on the inner surface of the micro-channel is served as sensing arm and the other core in the annular cladding is served as reference arm. Fusion-and-tapering method is employed to couple light from a single mode fiber to the hollow optical fiber in this device. Sampling is realized by side opening a microhole on the surface of the hollow optical fiber. Under differential pressure between the end of the hollow fiber and the microhole, the liquids can form steady microflows in the micro-channel. Simultaneously, the interference spectrum of the interferometer device shifts with the variation of the concentration of the microfluid in the channel. The optofluidic in-fiber interferometer has a sensitivity of refractive index around 2508 nm/RIU for NaCl. For medicine concentration detection, its sensitivity is 0.076 nm/mmolL -1 for ascorbic acid. Significantly, this work presents a compact microfluidic in-fiber interferometer with a micro-channel which can be integrated with chip devices without spatial optical coupling and without complex manufacturing procedure of the waveguide on the chips.

Optofluidic microvalve-on-a-chip with a surface plasmon-enhanced fiber optic microheater

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhijian; Kusimo, Abisola; Yu, Miao

2014-01-01

We present an optofluidic microvalve utilizing an embedded, surface plasmon-enhanced fiber optic microheater. The fiber optic microheater is formed by depositing a titanium thin film on the roughened end-face of a silica optical fiber that serves as a waveguide to deliver laser light to the titanium film. The nanoscale roughness at the titanium-silica interface enables strong light absorption enhancement in the titanium film through excitation of localized surface plasmons as well as facilitates bubble nucleation. Our experimental results show that due to the unique design of the fiber optic heater, the threshold laser power required to generate a bubble is greatly reduced and the bubble growth rate is significantly increased. By using the microvalve, stable vapor bubble generation in the microchannel is demonstrated, which does not require complex optical focusing and alignment. The generated vapor bubble is shown to successfully block a liquid flow channel with a size of 125 μm × 125 μm and a flow rate of ∼10 μl/min at ∼120 mW laser power. PMID:25538813

Colloidal gold-modified optical fiber for chemical and biochemical sensing.

PubMed

Cheng, Shu-Fang; Chau, Lai-Kwan

2003-01-01

A novel class of fiber-optic evanescent-wave sensor was constructed on the basis of modification of the unclad portion of an optical fiber with self-assembled gold colloids. The optical properties and, hence, the attenuated total reflection spectrum of self-assembled gold colloids on the optical fiber changes with different refractive index of the environment near the colloidal gold surface. With sucrose solutions of increasing refractive index, the sensor response decreases linearly. The colloidal gold surface was also functionalized with glycine, succinic acid, or biotin to enhance the selectivity of the sensor. Results show that the sensor response decreases linearly with increasing concentration of each analyte. When the colloidal gold surface was functionalized with biotin, the detection limit of the sensor for streptavidin was 9.8 x 10(-11) M. Using this approach, we demonstrate proof-of-concept of a class of refractive index sensor that is sensitive to the refractive index of the environment near the colloidal gold surface and, hence, is suitable for label-free detection of molecular or biomolecular binding at the surface of gold colloids.

Plasmonic structure: fiber grating formed by gold nanorods on a tapered fiber.

PubMed

Trevisanutto, J O; Linhananta, A; Das, G

2016-12-15

The authors demonstrated the fabrication of a fiber Bragg grating-like plasmonic nanostructure on the surface of a tapered optical fiber using gold nanorods (GNRs). A multimode optical fiber with core and cladding diameters of 105 and 125 μm, respectively, was used to make a tapered fiber using a dynamic etching process. The tip diameter was ∼100  nm. Light from a laser was coupled to the untapered end of the fiber, which produced a strong evanescent field around the tapered section of the fiber. The gradient force due to the evanescent field trapped the GNRs on the surface of the tapered fiber. The authors explored possible causes of the GNR distribution. The plasmonic structure will be a good candidate for sensing based on surface enhanced Raman scattering.

Water-Cooled Optical Thermometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Menna, A. A.

1987-01-01

Water-cooled optical probe measures temperature of nearby radiating object. Intended primarily for use in silicon-growing furnace for measuring and controlling temperatures of silicon ribbon, meniscus, cartridge surfaces, heaters, or other parts. Cooling water and flushing gas cool fiber-optic probe and keep it clean. Fiber passes thermal radiation from observed surface to measuring instrument.

Surface Modification of Carbon Fiber Polymer Composites after Laser Structuring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabau, Adrian S.; Chen, Jian; Jones, Jonaaron F.; Hackett, Alexandra; Jellison, Gerald D.; Daniel, Claus; Warren, David; Rehkopf, Jackie D.

The increasing use of Carbon Fiber-reinforced Polymer matrix Composites (CFPC) as a lightweight material in automotive and aerospace industries requires the control of surface morphology. In this study, the composites surface was prepared by ablating the resin on the top fiber layer of the composite using an Nd:YAG laser. The CFPC specimens with T700S carbon fiber and Prepreg — T83 resin (epoxy) were supplied by Plasan Carbon Composites, Inc. as 4 ply thick, 0/90° plaques. The effect of laser fluence, scanning speed, and wavelength was investigated on the removal rate of the resin without an excessive damage of the fibers. In addition, resin ablation due to the power variation created by a laser interference technique is presented. Optical property measurements, optical micrographs, 3D imaging, and high-resolution optical profiler images were used to study the effect of the laser processing on surface morphology.

Optical fiber interferometer for the study of ultrasonic waves in composite materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Claus, R. O.; Zewekh, P. S.; Turner, T. M.; Wade, J. C.; Rogers, R. T.; Garg, A. O.

1981-01-01

The possibility of acoustic emission detection in composites using embedded optical fibers as sensing elements was investigated. Optical fiber interferometry, fiber acoustic sensitivity, fiber interferometer calibration, and acoustic emission detection are reported. Adhesive bond layer dynamical properties using ultrasonic interface waves, the design and construction of an ultrasonic transducer with a two dimensional Gaussian pressure profile, and the development of an optical differential technique for the measurement of surface acoustic wave particle displacements and propagation direction are also examined.

Analytical thermal resistance model for high power double-clad fiber on rectangular plate with convective cooling at upper and lower surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Yi; Zheng, Huai; Liu, Sheng

2018-07-01

Whether convective heat transfer on the upper surface of the substrate is used or not, the thermal resistance network models of optical fiber embedded in the substrate are established in this research. These models are applied to calculate the heat dissipation in a high power ytterbium doped double-clad fiber (YDCF) power amplifier. Firstly, the temperature values of two points on the fiber are tested when there is no convective heat transfer on the upper surface. Then, the numerical simulation is used to verify the temperature change of the fiber with the effective convective heat transfer coefficient of the lower surface heff increasing when the upper surface is subjected to three loading conditions with hu as 1, 5 and 15 W/(m2 K), respectively. The axial temperature distribution of the optical fiber is also presented at four different values for hu when heff is 30 W/(m2 K). Absolute values of the relative errors are less than 7.08%. The results show that the analytical models can accurately calculate the temperature distribution of the optical fiber when the fiber is encapsulated into the substrate. The corresponding relationship is helpful to further optimize packaging design of the fiber cooling system.

Package for integrated optic circuit and method

DOEpatents

Kravitz, Stanley H.; Hadley, G. Ronald; Warren, Mial E.; Carson, Richard F.; Armendariz, Marcelino G.

1998-01-01

A structure and method for packaging an integrated optic circuit. The package comprises a first wall having a plurality of microlenses formed therein to establish channels of optical communication with an integrated optic circuit within the package. A first registration pattern is provided on an inside surface of one of the walls of the package for alignment and attachment of the integrated optic circuit. The package in one embodiment may further comprise a fiber holder for aligning and attaching a plurality of optical fibers to the package and extending the channels of optical communication to the fibers outside the package. In another embodiment, a fiber holder may be used to hold the fibers and align the fibers to the package. The fiber holder may be detachably connected to the package.

Package for integrated optic circuit and method

DOEpatents

Kravitz, S.H.; Hadley, G.R.; Warren, M.E.; Carson, R.F.; Armendariz, M.G.

1998-08-04

A structure and method are disclosed for packaging an integrated optic circuit. The package comprises a first wall having a plurality of microlenses formed therein to establish channels of optical communication with an integrated optic circuit within the package. A first registration pattern is provided on an inside surface of one of the walls of the package for alignment and attachment of the integrated optic circuit. The package in one embodiment may further comprise a fiber holder for aligning and attaching a plurality of optical fibers to the package and extending the channels of optical communication to the fibers outside the package. In another embodiment, a fiber holder may be used to hold the fibers and align the fibers to the package. The fiber holder may be detachably connected to the package. 6 figs.

Intrinsic Fabry-Perot optical fiber sensors and their multiplexing

DOEpatents

Wang, Anbo

2007-12-11

An intrinsic Fabry-Perot optical sensor includes a thin film sandwiched between two fiber ends. When light is launched into the fiber, two reflections are generated at the two fiber/thin film interfaces due to a difference in refractive indices between the fibers and the film, giving rise to the sensor output. In another embodiment, a portion of the cladding of a fiber is removed, creating two parallel surfaces. Part of the evanescent fields of light propagating in the fiber is reflected at each of the surfaces, giving rise to the sensor output. In a third embodiment, the refractive index of a small portion of a fiber is changed through exposure to a laser beam or other radiation. Interference between reflections at the ends of the small portion give rise to the sensor output. Multiple sensors along a single fiber are multiplexed using an optical time domain reflectometry method.

Hybrid catadioptric system for advanced optical cavity velocimetry

DOEpatents

Frayer, Daniel K.

2018-02-06

A probe including reflector is disclosed to measure the velocity distribution of a moving surface along many lines of sight. Laser light, directed to the surface by the probe and then reflected back from the surface, is Doppler shifted by the moving surface, collected into probe, and then directed to detection equipment through optic fibers. The received light is mixed with reference laser light and using photonic Doppler velocimetry, a continuous time record of the surface movement is obtained. An array of single-mode optical fibers provides an optic signal to one or more lens groups and a reflector, such as a parabolic reflector having a mirrored interior surface.

Optimization Of Fluoride Glass Fiber Drawing With Respect To Mechanical Strength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, H. W.; Schoberth, A.; Staudt, A.; Gerndt, Ch.

1987-08-01

Heavy metal fluoride fibers have attracted considerable attention recently as lightguides for infrared optical devices. Besides the optical loss mechanical performance of the fiber is of major interest. At present fiber strength suffers from surface crystallization prior to or during fiber drawing. We developed an etching method for the preparation of preforms with clean surface. Drawing these preforms under optimized conditions in a dry atmosphere results in fibers with improved strength. So far, mean value of 400 N/mm2 tensile strength have been achieved. Maximum values of 800 N/mm2 measured on etched fibers indicate an even higher strength potential for the material itself.

High-precision micro-displacement optical-fiber sensor based on surface plasmon resonance.

PubMed

Zhu, Zongda; Liu, Lu; Liu, Zhihai; Zhang, Yu; Zhang, Yaxun

2017-05-15

We propose and demonstrate a novel optical-fiber micro-displacement sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) by fabricating a Kretschmann configuration on graded-index multimode fiber (GIMMF). We employ a single-mode fiber to change the radial position of the incident beam as the displacement. In the GIMMF, the angle between the light beam and fiber axis, which is closely related to the resonance angle, is changed by the displacement; thus, the resonance wavelength of the fiber SPR shifts. This micro-displacement fiber sensor has a wide detection range of 0-25 μm, a high sensitivity with maximum up to 10.32 nm/μm, and a nanometer resolution with minimum to 2 nm, which transcends almost all of other optical-fiber micro-displacement sensors. In addition, we also research that increasing the fiber polishing angle or medium refractive index can improve the sensitivity. This micro-displacement sensor will have a great significance in many industrial applications and provide a neoteric, rapid, and accurate optical measurement method in micro-displacement.

High temperature fiber optic microphone having a pressure-sensing reflective membrane under tensile stress

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zuckerwar, Allan J. (Inventor); Cuomo, Frank W. (Inventor); Robbins, William E. (Inventor); Hopson, Purnell, Jr. (Inventor)

1992-01-01

A fiber optic microphone is provided for measuring fluctuating pressures. An optical fiber probe having at least one transmitting fiber for transmitting light to a pressure-sensing membrane and at least one receiving fiber for receiving light reflected from a stretched membrane is provided. The pressure-sensing membrane may be stretched for high frequency response. Further, a reflecting surface of the pressure-sensing membrane may have dimensions which substantially correspond to dimensions of a cross section of the optical fiber probe. Further, the fiber optic microphone can be made of materials for use in high temperature environments, for example greater than 1000 F. A fiber optic probe is also provided with a backplate for damping membrane motion. The backplate further provides a means for on-line calibration of the microphone.

Fiber optic microphone having a pressure sensing reflective membrane and a voltage source for calibration purpose

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zuckerwar, Allan J. (Inventor); Cuomo, Frank W. (Inventor); Robbins, William E. (Inventor)

1993-01-01

A fiber optic microphone is provided for measuring fluctuating pressures. An optical fiber probe having at least one transmitting fiber for transmitting light to a pressure-sensing membrane and at least one receiving fiber for receiving light reflected from a stretched membrane is provided. The pressure-sensing membrane may be stretched for high frequency response. Further, a reflecting surface of the pressure-sensing membrane may have dimensions which substantially correspond to dimensions of a cross section of the optical fiber probe. Further, the fiber optic microphone can be made of materials for use in high temperature environments, for example greater than 1000 F. A fiber optic probe is also provided with a back plate for damping membrane motion. The back plate further provides a means for on-line calibration of the microphone.

Common-path low-coherence interferometry fiber-optic sensor guided microincision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Kang; Kang, Jin U.

2011-09-01

We propose and demonstrate a common-path low-coherence interferometry (CP-LCI) fiber-optic sensor guided precise microincision. The method tracks the target surface and compensates the tool-to-surface relative motion with better than +/-5 μm resolution using a precision micromotor connected to the tool tip. A single-fiber distance probe integrated microdissector was used to perform an accurate 100 μm incision into the surface of an Intralipid phantom. The CP-LCI guided incision quality in terms of depth was evaluated afterwards using three-dimensional Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography imaging, which showed significant improvement of incision accuracy compared to free-hand-only operations.

Investigation of cladding and coating stripping methods for specialty optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jung-Ryul; Dhital, Dipesh; Yoon, Dong-Jin

2011-03-01

Fiber optic sensing technology is used extensively in several engineering fields, including smart structures, health and usage monitoring, non-destructive testing, minimum invasive sensing, safety monitoring, and other advanced measurement fields. A general optical fiber consists of a core, cladding, and coating layers. Many sensing principles require that the cladding or coating layer should be removed or modified. In addition, since different sensing systems are needed for different types of optical fibers, it is very important to find and sort out the suitable cladding or coating removal method for a particular fiber. This study focuses on finding the cladding and coating stripping methods for four recent specialty optical fibers, namely: hard polymer-clad fiber, graded-index plastic optical fiber, copper/carbon-coated optical fiber, and aluminum-coated optical fiber. Several methods, including novel laser stripping and conventional chemical and mechanical stripping, were tried to determine the most suitable and efficient technique. Microscopic investigation of the fiber surfaces was used to visually evaluate the mechanical reliability. Optical time domain reflectometric signals of the successful removal cases were investigated to further examine the optical reliability. Based on our results, we describe and summarize the successful and unsuccessful methods.

Combined imaging and chemical sensing using a single optical imaging fiber.

PubMed

Bronk, K S; Michael, K L; Pantano, P; Walt, D R

1995-09-01

Despite many innovations and developments in the field of fiber-optic chemical sensors, optical fibers have not been employed to both view a sample and concurrently detect an analyte of interest. While chemical sensors employing a single optical fiber or a noncoherent fiberoptic bundle have been applied to a wide variety of analytical determinations, they cannot be used for imaging. Similarly, coherent imaging fibers have been employed only for their originally intended purpose, image transmission. We herein report a new technique for viewing a sample and measuring surface chemical concentrations that employs a coherent imaging fiber. The method is based on the deposition of a thin, analyte-sensitive polymer layer on the distal surface of a 350-microns-diameter imaging fiber. We present results from a pH sensor array and an acetylcholine biosensor array, each of which contains approximately 6000 optical sensors. The acetylcholine biosensor has a detection limit of 35 microM and a fast (< 1 s) response time. In association with an epifluorescence microscope and a charge-coupled device, these modified imaging fibers can display visual information of a remote sample with 4-microns spatial resolution, allowing for alternating acquisition of both chemical analysis and visual histology.

Optical waveguide circuit board with a surface-mounted optical receiver array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomson, J. E.; Levesque, Harold; Savov, Emil; Horwitz, Fred; Booth, Bruce L.; Marchegiano, Joseph E.

1994-03-01

A photonic circuit board is fabricated for potential application to interchip and interboard parallel optical links. The board comprises photolithographically patterned polymer optical waveguides on a conventional glass-epoxy electrical circuit board and a surface-mounted integrated circuit (IC) package that optically and electrically couples to an optoelectronic IC. The waveguide circuits include eight-channel arrays of straights, cross-throughs, curves, self- aligning interconnects to multi-fiber ribbon, and out-of-plane turning mirrors. A coherent, fused bundle of optical fibers couples light between 45-deg waveguide mirrors and a GaAs receiver array in the IC package. The fiber bundle is easily aligned to the mirrors and the receivers and is amenable to surface mounting and hermetic sealing. The waveguide-receiver- array board achieved error-free data rates up to 1.25 Gbits/s per channel, and modal noise was shown to be negligible.

A flexible tactile sensitive sheet using a hetero-core fiber optic sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujino, S.; Yamazaki, H.; Hosoki, A.; Watanabe, K.

2014-05-01

In this report, we have designed a tactile sensitive sheet based on a hetero-core fiber-optic sensor, which realize an areal sensing by using single sensor potion in one optical fiber line. Recently, flexible and wide-area tactile sensing technology is expected to applied to acquired biological information in living space and robot achieve long-term care services such as welfare and nursing-care and humanoid technology. A hetero-core fiber-optic sensor has several advantages such as thin and flexible transmission line, immunity to EMI. Additionally this sensor is sensitive to moderate bending actions with optical loss changes and is independent of temperature fluctuation. Thus, the hetero-core fiber-optic sensor can be suitable for areal tactile sensing. We measure pressure characteristic of the proposed sensitive sheet by changing the pressure position and pinching characteristic on the surface. The proposed tactile sensitive sheet shows monotonic responses on the whole sensitive sheet surface although different sensitivity by the position is observed at the sensitive sheet surface. Moreover, the tactile sensitive sheet could sufficiently detect the pinching motion. In addition, in order to realize the discrimination between pressure and pinch, we fabricated a doubled-over sensor using a set of tactile sensitive sheets, which has different kinds of silicon robbers as a sensitive sheet surface. In conclusion, the flexible material could be given to the tactile sensation which is attached under proposed sensitive sheet.

Optical-fiber-based Mueller optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Jiao, Shuliang; Yu, Wurong; Stoica, George; Wang, Lihong V

2003-07-15

An optical-fiber-based multichannel polarization-sensitive Mueller optical coherence tomography (OCT) system was built to acquire the Jones or Mueller matrix of a scattering medium, such as biological tissue. For the first time to our knowledge, fiber-based polarization-sensitive OCT was dynamically calibrated to eliminate the polarization distortion caused by the single-mode optical fiber in the sample arm, thereby overcoming a key technical impediment to the application of optical fibers in this technology. The round-trip Jones matrix of the sampling fiber was acquired from the reflecting surface of the sample for each depth scan (A scan) with our OCT system. A new rigorous algorithm was then used to retrieve the calibrated polarization properties of the sample. This algorithm was validated with experimental data. The skin of a rat was imaged with this fiber-based system.

On-line tritium production monitor

DOEpatents

Mihalczo, John T.

1993-01-01

A scintillation optical fiber system for the on-line monitoring of nuclear reactions in an event-by-event manner is described. In the measurement of tritium production one or more optical fibers are coated with enriched .sup.6 Li and connected to standard scintillation counter circuitry. A neutron generated .sup.6 Li(n )T reaction occurs in the coated surface of .sup.6 Li-coated fiber to produce energetic alpha and triton particles one of which enters the optical fiber and scintillates light through the fiber to the counting circuit. The coated optical fibers can be provided with position sensitivity by placing a mirror at the free end of the fibers or by using pulse counting circuits at both ends of the fibers.

On-line tritium production monitor

DOEpatents

Mihalczo, J.T.

1993-11-23

A scintillation optical fiber system for the on-line monitoring of nuclear reactions in an event-by-event manner is described. In the measurement of tritium production one or more optical fibers are coated with enriched {sup 6}Li and connected to standard scintillation counter circuitry. A neutron generated {sup 6}Li(n)T reaction occurs in the coated surface of {sup 6}Li-coated fiber to produce energetic alpha and triton particles one of which enters the optical fiber and scintillates light through the fiber to the counting circuit. The coated optical fibers can be provided with position sensitivity by placing a mirror at the free end of the fibers or by using pulse counting circuits at both ends of the fibers. 5 figures.

Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Fiber Optic Sensors Utilizing Molecular Imprinting

PubMed Central

Gupta, Banshi D.; Shrivastav, Anand M.; Usha, Sruthi P.

2016-01-01

Molecular imprinting is earning worldwide attention from researchers in the field of sensing and diagnostic applications, due to its properties of inevitable specific affinity for the template molecule. The fabrication of complementary template imprints allows this technique to achieve high selectivity for the analyte to be sensed. Sensors incorporating this technique along with surface plasmon or localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR/LSPR) provide highly sensitive real time detection with quick response times. Unfolding these techniques with optical fiber provide the additional advantages of miniaturized probes with ease of handling, online monitoring and remote sensing. In this review a summary of optical fiber sensors using the combined approaches of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and the SPR/LSPR technique is discussed. An overview of the fundamentals of SPR/LSPR implementation on optical fiber is provided. The review also covers the molecular imprinting technology (MIT) with its elementary study, synthesis procedures and its applications for chemical and biological anlayte detection with different sensing methods. In conclusion, we explore the advantages, challenges and the future perspectives of developing highly sensitive and selective methods for the detection of analytes utilizing MIT with the SPR/LSPR phenomenon on optical fiber platforms. PMID:27589746

Measuring bacterial growth by refractive index tapered fiber optic biosensor.

PubMed

Zibaii, Mohammad Ismail; Kazemi, Alireza; Latifi, Hamid; Azar, Mahmoud Karimi; Hosseini, Seyed Masoud; Ghezelaiagh, Mohammad Hossein

2010-12-02

A single-mode tapered fiber optic biosensor was utilized for real-time monitoring of the Escherichia coli (E. coli K-12) growth in an aqueous medium. The applied fiber tapers were fabricated using heat-pulling method with waist diameter and length of 6-7μm and 3mm, respectively. The bacteria were immobilized on the tapered surface using Poly-l-Lysine. By providing the proper condition, bacterial population growth on the tapered surface increases the average surface density of the cells and consequently the refractive index (RI) of the tapered region would increase. The adsorption of the cells on the tapered fiber leads to changes in the optical characteristics of the taper. This affects the evanescent field leading to changes in optical throughput. The bacterial growth rate was monitored at room temperature by transmission of a 1558.17nm distributed feedback (DFB) laser through the tapered fiber. At the same condition, after determining the growth rate of E. coli by means of colony counting method, we compared the results with that obtained from the fiber sensor measurements. This novel sensing method, promises new application such as rapid analysis of the presence of bacteria. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fiber optic biosensor fabricated for measuring the growth rate of Escherichia coli K-12 in the aqueous

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zibaii, M. I.; Kazemi, A.; Latifi, H.; Karimi Azar, M.; Hosseini, S. M.; Ghezelaiagh, M. H.

2010-09-01

A single-mode tapered fiber optic biosensor was utilized for real-time monitoring of the Escherichia coli (E. coli K-12) growth in an aqueous medium. The applied fiber tapers were fabricated using heat-pulling method with waist diameter and length of 6-7μm and 3mm, respectively. The bacteria were immobilized on the tapered surface using Poly-L-Lysine. By providing the proper condition, bacterial population growth on the tapered surface increases the average surface density of the cells and consequently the refractive index (RI) of the tapered region would increase. The adsorption of the cells on the tapered fiber leads to changes in the optical characteristics of the taper. This affects the evanescent field leading to changes in optical throughput. The bacterial growth rate was monitored at room temperature by transmission of a 1558.17nm distributed feedback (DFB) laser through the tapered fiber. At the same condition, after determining the growth rate of E. coli by means of colony counting method, we compared the results with that obtained from the fiber sensor measurements. This novel sensing method, promises new application such as rapid analysis of the presence of bacteria.

Surface Plasmon Scattering in Exposed Core Optical Fiber for Enhanced Resolution Refractive Index Sensing.

PubMed

Klantsataya, Elizaveta; François, Alexandre; Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Heike; Hoffmann, Peter; Monro, Tanya M

2015-09-29

Refractometric sensors based on optical excitation of surface plasmons on the side of an optical fiber is an established sensing architecture that has enabled laboratory demonstrations of cost effective portable devices for biological and chemical applications. Here we report a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) configuration realized in an Exposed Core Microstructured Optical Fiber (ECF) capable of optimizing both sensitivity and resolution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of fabrication of a rough metal coating suitable for spectral interrogation of scattered plasmonic wave using chemical electroless plating technique on a 10 μm diameter exposed core of the ECF. Performance of the sensor in terms of its refractive index sensitivity and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of SPR response is compared to that achieved with an unstructured bare core fiber with 140 μm core diameter. The experimental improvement in FWHM, and therefore the detection limit, is found to be a factor of two (75 nm for ECF in comparison to 150 nm for the large core fiber). Refractive index sensitivity of 1800 nm/RIU was achieved for both fibers in the sensing range of aqueous environment (1.33-1.37) suitable for biosensing applications.

Common-path low-coherence interferometry fiber-optic sensor guided microincision

PubMed Central

Zhang, Kang; Kang, Jin U.

2011-01-01

We propose and demonstrate a common-path low-coherence interferometry (CP-LCI) fiber-optic sensor guided precise microincision. The method tracks the target surface and compensates the tool-to-surface relative motion with better than ±5 μm resolution using a precision micromotor connected to the tool tip. A single-fiber distance probe integrated microdissector was used to perform an accurate 100 μm incision into the surface of an Intralipid phantom. The CP-LCI guided incision quality in terms of depth was evaluated afterwards using three-dimensional Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography imaging, which showed significant improvement of incision accuracy compared to free-hand-only operations. PMID:21950912

Reducing the Surface Performance Requirements of a Primary Mirror by Adding a Deformable Mirror in its Optical Path

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) mirrors been proposed for use in future imaging satellites. Compared to traditional glass -based mirrors, CFRP...SUBJECT TERMS carbon fiber reinforced polymer mirror, adaptive optics, deformable mirror, surface figure error 15. NUMBER OF PAGES 79 16. PRICE CODE...Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering iv THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK v ABSTRACT In recent years, carbon fiber reinforced

Absorbing TiOx thin film enabling laser welding of polyurethane membranes and polyamide fibers

PubMed Central

Amberg, Martin; Haag, Alexander; Storchenegger, Raphael; Rupper, Patrick; Lehmeier, Frederike; Rossi, René M; Hegemann, Dirk

2015-01-01

We report on the optical properties of thin titanium suboxide (TiOx) films for applications in laser transmission welding of polymers. Non-absorbing fibers were coated with TiOx coatings by reactive magnetron sputtering. Plasma process parameters influencing the chemical composition and morphology of the deposited thin films were investigated in order to optimize their absorption properties. Optical absorption spectroscopy showed that the oxygen content of the TiOx coatings is the main parameter influencing the optical absorbance. Overtreatment (high power plasma input) of the fiber surface leads to high surface roughness and loss of mechanical stability of the fiber. The study shows that thin substoichiometric TiOx films enable the welding of very thin polyurethane membranes and polyamide fibers with improved adhesion properties. PMID:27877837

Absorbing TiOx thin film enabling laser welding of polyurethane membranes and polyamide fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amberg, Martin; Haag, Alexander; Storchenegger, Raphael; Rupper, Patrick; Lehmeier, Frederike; Rossi, René M.; Hegemann, Dirk

2015-10-01

We report on the optical properties of thin titanium suboxide (TiOx) films for applications in laser transmission welding of polymers. Non-absorbing fibers were coated with TiOx coatings by reactive magnetron sputtering. Plasma process parameters influencing the chemical composition and morphology of the deposited thin films were investigated in order to optimize their absorption properties. Optical absorption spectroscopy showed that the oxygen content of the TiOx coatings is the main parameter influencing the optical absorbance. Overtreatment (high power plasma input) of the fiber surface leads to high surface roughness and loss of mechanical stability of the fiber. The study shows that thin substoichiometric TiOx films enable the welding of very thin polyurethane membranes and polyamide fibers with improved adhesion properties.

Absorbing TiO x thin film enabling laser welding of polyurethane membranes and polyamide fibers.

PubMed

Amberg, Martin; Haag, Alexander; Storchenegger, Raphael; Rupper, Patrick; Lehmeier, Frederike; Rossi, René M; Hegemann, Dirk

2015-10-01

We report on the optical properties of thin titanium suboxide (TiO x ) films for applications in laser transmission welding of polymers. Non-absorbing fibers were coated with TiO x coatings by reactive magnetron sputtering. Plasma process parameters influencing the chemical composition and morphology of the deposited thin films were investigated in order to optimize their absorption properties. Optical absorption spectroscopy showed that the oxygen content of the TiO x coatings is the main parameter influencing the optical absorbance. Overtreatment (high power plasma input) of the fiber surface leads to high surface roughness and loss of mechanical stability of the fiber. The study shows that thin substoichiometric TiO x films enable the welding of very thin polyurethane membranes and polyamide fibers with improved adhesion properties.

Groove micro-structure optical fiber refractive index sensor with nanoscale gold film based on surface plasmon resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhen; Li, Shuguang; Liu, Qiang; Feng, Xinxing; Zhang, Shuhuan; Wang, Yujun; Wu, Junjun

2018-07-01

A groove micro-structure optical fiber refractive index sensor with nanoscale gold film based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is proposed and analyzed by the finite element method (FEM). Numerical results show that the average sensitivity is 15,933 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) with the refractive index of analyte ranging from 1.40 to 1.43 and the maximum sensitivity is 28,600 nm/RIU and the resolution of the sensor is 3.50 × 10-8 RIU. The groove micro-structure optical fiber refractive index sensor do some changes on the D-shaped fiber sensor, compared with conventional D-shaped fiber sensor, it has a higher sensitivity and it is easier to produce than the traditional SPR sensor.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sabau, Adrian S; Chen, Jian; Jones, Jonaaron F.

The increasing use of Carbon Fiber Polymer Composite (CFPC) as a lightweight material in automotive and aerospace industries requires the control of surface morphology. In this study, the composites surface was prepared by ablating the resin in the top fiber layer of the composite using an Nd:YAG laser. The CFPC specimens with T700S carbon fiber and Prepreg - T83 resin (epoxy) were supplied by Plasan Carbon Composites, Inc. as 4 ply thick, 0/90o plaques. The effect of laser fluence, scanning speed, and wavelength was investigated to remove resin without an excessive damage of the fibers. In addition, resin ablation duemore » to the power variation created by a laser interference technique is presented. Optical property measurements, optical micrographs, 3D imaging, and high-resolution optical profiler images were used to study the effect of the laser processing on the surface morphology.« less

Fiber optic SERS-based plasmonics nanobiosensing in single living cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scaffidi, Jonathan P.; Gregas, Molly K.; Seewaldt, Victoria; Vo-Dinh, Tuan

2009-05-01

We describe the development of small molecule-sensitive plasmonics-active fiber-optic nanoprobes suitable for intracellular bioanalysis in single living human cells using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection. The practical utility of SERS-based fiber-optic nanoprobes is illustrated by measurements of intracellular pH in HMEC- 15/hTERT immortalized "normal" human mammary epithelial cells and PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. The results indicate that fiber-optic nanoprobe insertion and interrogation provide a sensitive and selective means to monitor biologically-relevant small molecules at the single cell level.

The light transmission and distribution in an optical fiber coated with TiO2 particles.

PubMed

Wang, Wen; Ku, Young

2003-03-01

The light delivery and distribution phenomena along the optical fiber coated with the P-25 TiO(2) particles by dipping was investigated. The surface properties (coverage, roughness and thickness) of the TiO(2) layer coated on the optical fiber were characterized by SEM micrographs. For TiO(2) layer prepared from solutions containing less than 20 wt.% of TiO(2) slurry, the thickness of layer was increased linearly with the TiO(2) slurry content in solutions. The UV light intensity transmitted along a TiO(2)-coated optical fiber decreased more rapidly than that transmitted along a non-coated fiber. Based on the experimental results, the light intensity distribution around a coated optical fiber was modeled to determine the optimum configuration for the design of optical fiber reactors under various operational conditions. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Evaluation of six holmium:YAG optical fibers for ureteroscopy: What's new in 2009?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knudsen, Bodo E.; Teichman, Joel M. H.

2010-02-01

The holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser is the gold standard laser for intracorporeal lithotripsy.1 Optical fibers are utilized to transmit laser energy to the surface of a stone for fragmentation via a predominant photothermal mechanism.2 Previous work has demonstrated that performance characteristics of holmium:YAG optical fibers used for laser lithotripsy varies. Performance may difference not only between fibers made by different manufacturers but also between individual fibers produced by the same manufacturer.3,4 Fiber failure with bending, such as during lower pole ureterorenoscopy, can lead to catastrophic endoscope damage resulting in costly repair. Manufacturers continue to develop new holmium:YAG optical fibers. In this study we evaluate a series of newly commercially available fibers using a previously designed testing protocol. This study was designed to determine the performance and threshold for failure of six newly available holmium:YAG laser fibers from Cook Medical and Fibertech Gmbh. We hypothesize that fiber performance will continue to vary amongst different holmium:YAG optical fibers.

A plasmonic optical fiber patterned by template transfer as a high-performance flexible nanoprobe for real-time biosensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Peipei; Yang, Jun

2014-07-01

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) on metal nanostructures offers a promising route for manipulation and interrogation of light in the subwavelength regime. However, the utility of SPR structures is largely limited by currently used complex nanofabrication methods and relatively sophisticated optical components. Here to relieve these restrictions, plasmonic optical fibers are constructed by transferring periodic metal nanostructures from patterned templates onto endfaces of optical fibers using an epoxy adhesive. Patterned metal structures are generally extended from two-dimensional (2D) nanohole arrays to one-dimensional (1D) nanoslit arrays. By controlling the viscosity of the adhesive layer, diverse surface topographies of metal structures are realized with the same template. We design a special plasmonic fiber that simultaneously implements multimode refractive index sensing (transmission and reflection) with remarkably narrow linewidth (6.6 nm) and high figure of merit (60.7), which are both among the best reported values for SPR sensors. We further demonstrate a real-time immunoassay relying on our plasmonic fiber integrated with a special flow cell. Plasmonic optical fibers also take advantages of excellent stability during fiber bending and capability of spectrum filtering. These features enable our plasmonic fibers to open up an alternative avenue for the general community in biosensing and nanoplasmonics.

A plasmonic optical fiber patterned by template transfer as a high-performance flexible nanoprobe for real-time biosensing.

PubMed

Jia, Peipei; Yang, Jun

2014-08-07

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) on metal nanostructures offers a promising route for manipulation and interrogation of light in the subwavelength regime. However, the utility of SPR structures is largely limited by currently used complex nanofabrication methods and relatively sophisticated optical components. Here to relieve these restrictions, plasmonic optical fibers are constructed by transferring periodic metal nanostructures from patterned templates onto endfaces of optical fibers using an epoxy adhesive. Patterned metal structures are generally extended from two-dimensional (2D) nanohole arrays to one-dimensional (1D) nanoslit arrays. By controlling the viscosity of the adhesive layer, diverse surface topographies of metal structures are realized with the same template. We design a special plasmonic fiber that simultaneously implements multimode refractive index sensing (transmission and reflection) with remarkably narrow linewidth (6.6 nm) and high figure of merit (60.7), which are both among the best reported values for SPR sensors. We further demonstrate a real-time immunoassay relying on our plasmonic fiber integrated with a special flow cell. Plasmonic optical fibers also take advantages of excellent stability during fiber bending and capability of spectrum filtering. These features enable our plasmonic fibers to open up an alternative avenue for the general community in biosensing and nanoplasmonics.

Stone retropulsion during holmium:YAG lithotripsy.

PubMed

Lee, Ho; Ryan, R Tres; Teichman, Joel M H; Kim, Jeehyun; Choi, Bernard; Arakeri, Navanit V; Welch, A J

2003-03-01

We modeled retropulsion during holmium:YAG lithotripsy on the conservation of momentum, whereby the force of ejected fragment debris off of the calculous surface should equal the force of retropulsion displacing the stone. We tested the hypothesis that retropulsion occurs as a result of ejected stone debris. Uniform calculous phantoms were irradiated with holmium:YAG energy in air and in water. Optical fiber diameter and pulse energy were varied. Motion of the phantom was monitored with high speed video imaging. Laser induced crater volume and geometry were characterized by optical coherence tomography. To determine the direction of plume laser burn paper was irradiated at various incident angles. Retropulsion was greater for phantoms irradiated in air versus water. Retropulsion increased as fiber diameter increased and as pulse energy increased (p <0.001). Crater volumes increased as pulse energy increased (p <0.05) and generally increased as fiber diameter increased. Crater geometry was wide and shallow for larger fibers, and narrow and deeper for smaller fibers. The ejected plume propagated in the direction normal to the burn paper surface regardless of the laser incident angle. Retropulsion increases as pulse energy and optical fiber diameter increase. Vector analysis of the ejected plume and crater geometry explains increased retropulsion using larger optical fibers. Holmium:YAG lithotripsy should be performed with small optical fibers to limit retropulsion.

Fiber-optic projected-fringe digital interferometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mercer, Carolyn R.; Beheim, Glenn

1990-01-01

A phase-stepped projected-fringe interferometer was developed which uses a closed-loop fiber-optic phase-control system to make very accurate surface profile measurements. The closed-loop phase-control system greatly reduces phase-stepping error, which is frequently the dominant source of error in digital interferometers. Two beams emitted from a fiber-optic coupler are combined to form an interference fringe pattern on a diffusely reflecting object. Reflections off of the fibers' output faces are used to create a phase-indicating signal for the closed-loop optical phase controller. The controller steps the phase difference between the two beams by pi/2 radians in order to determine the object's surface profile using a solid-state camera and a computer. The system combines the ease of alignment and automated data reduction of phase-stepping projected-fringe interferometry with the greatly improved phase-stepping accuracy of our closed-loop phase-controller. The system is demonstrated by measuring the profile of a plate containing several convex surfaces whose heights range from 15 to 25 micron high.

Label-Free Quantitative Immunoassay of Fibrinogen in Alzheimer Disease Patient Plasma Using Fiber Optical Surface Plasmon Resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jisoo; Kim, SeJin; Nguyen, Tan Tai; Lee, Renee; Li, Tiehua; Yun, Changhyun; Ham, Youngeun; An, Seong Soo A.; Ju, Heongkyu

2016-05-01

We present a real-time quantitative immunoassay to detect fibrinogen in the blood plasma of Alzheimer's disease patients using multimode fiber optical sensors in which surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was employed. Nanometer-thick bimetals including silver and aluminum were coated onto the core surface of the clad-free part (5 cm long) of the fiber for SPR excitation at the He-Ne laser wavelength of 632.8 nm. The histidine-tagged peptide was then coated on the metal surface to immobilize the fibrinogen antibody for the selective capture of fibrinogen among the proteins in the patient blood plasma. The SPR fiber optical sensor enabled quantitative detection of concentrations of fibrinogen from the different human patient blood at a detection limit of ˜20 ng/ml. We also observed a correlation in the fibrinogen concentration measurement between enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and our SPR fiber-based sensors. This suggests that the presented SPR fiber-based sensors that do not rely on the use of labels such as fluorophores can be used for a real-time quantitative assay of a specific protein such as fibrinogen in a human blood that is known to contain many other kinds of proteins together.

Fiber optic hydrophone

DOEpatents

Kuzmenko, Paul J.; Davis, Donald T.

1994-01-01

A miniature fiber optic hydrophone based on the principles of a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The hydrophone, in one embodiment, includes a body having a shaped flexible bladder at one end which defines a volume containing air or suitable gas, and including a membrane disposed adjacent a vent. An optic fiber extends into the body with one end terminating in spaced relation to the membrane. Acoustic waves in the water that impinge on the bladder cause the pressure of the volume therein to vary causing the membrane to deflect and modulate the reflectivity of the Fabry-Perot cavity formed by the membrane surface and the cleaved end of the optical fiber disposed adjacent to the membrane. When the light is transmitted down the optical fiber, the reflected signal is amplitude modulated by the incident acoustic wave. Another embodiment utilizes a fluid filled volume within which the fiber optic extends.

Experimental study of optical fibers influence on composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Rong-Mei; Liang, Da-Kai

2010-03-01

Bending strength and elasticity modulus of composite, with and without embedded optical fibers, were experimentally studied. Two kinds of laminates, which were denoted as group 1 and group 2, were fabricated from an orthogonal woven glass/epoxy prepreg. Since the normal stress value becomes the biggest at the surface of a beam, the optical fibers were embedded at the outmost layer and were all along the loading direction. Four types of materials, using each kind of laminated prepreg respectively, were manufactured. The embedded optical fibers for the 4 material types were 0, 10, 30 and 50 respectively. Three-point bending tests were carried out on the produced specimens to study the influence of embedded optical fiber on host composite. The experimental results indicated that the materials in group 2 were more sensitive to the embedded optical fibers.

Novel Fiber-Optic Ring Acoustic Emission Sensor

PubMed Central

Han, Xiaole; Xia, Dong; Liu, Taolin; Lang, Hao

2018-01-01

Acoustic emission technology has been applied to many fields for many years. However, the conventional piezoelectric acoustic emission sensors cannot be used in extreme environments, such as those with heavy electromagnetic interference, high pressure, or strong corrosion. In this paper, a novel fiber-optic ring acoustic emission sensor is proposed. The sensor exhibits high sensitivity, anti-electromagnetic interference, and corrosion resistance. First, the principle of a novel fiber-optic ring sensor is introduced. Different from piezoelectric and other fiber acoustic emission sensors, this novel sensor includes both a sensing skeleton and a sensing fiber. Second, a heterodyne interferometric demodulating method is presented. In addition, a fiber-optic ring sensor acoustic emission system is built based on this method. Finally, fiber-optic ring acoustic emission experiments are performed. The novel fiber-optic ring sensor is glued onto the surface of an aluminum plate. The 150 kHz standard continuous sinusoidal signals and broken lead signals are successfully detected by the novel fiber-optic ring acoustic emission sensor. In addition, comparison to the piezoelectric acoustic emission sensor is performed, which shows the availability and reliability of the novel fiber-optic ring acoustic emission sensor. In the future, this novel fiber-optic ring acoustic emission sensor will provide a new route to acoustic emission detection in harsh environments. PMID:29342858

Novel Fiber-Optic Ring Acoustic Emission Sensor.

PubMed

Wei, Peng; Han, Xiaole; Xia, Dong; Liu, Taolin; Lang, Hao

2018-01-13

Acoustic emission technology has been applied to many fields for many years. However, the conventional piezoelectric acoustic emission sensors cannot be used in extreme environments, such as those with heavy electromagnetic interference, high pressure, or strong corrosion. In this paper, a novel fiber-optic ring acoustic emission sensor is proposed. The sensor exhibits high sensitivity, anti-electromagnetic interference, and corrosion resistance. First, the principle of a novel fiber-optic ring sensor is introduced. Different from piezoelectric and other fiber acoustic emission sensors, this novel sensor includes both a sensing skeleton and a sensing fiber. Second, a heterodyne interferometric demodulating method is presented. In addition, a fiber-optic ring sensor acoustic emission system is built based on this method. Finally, fiber-optic ring acoustic emission experiments are performed. The novel fiber-optic ring sensor is glued onto the surface of an aluminum plate. The 150 kHz standard continuous sinusoidal signals and broken lead signals are successfully detected by the novel fiber-optic ring acoustic emission sensor. In addition, comparison to the piezoelectric acoustic emission sensor is performed, which shows the availability and reliability of the novel fiber-optic ring acoustic emission sensor. In the future, this novel fiber-optic ring acoustic emission sensor will provide a new route to acoustic emission detection in harsh environments.

Plasmonic Fiber Optic Refractometric Sensors: From Conventional Architectures to Recent Design Trends

PubMed Central

Klantsataya, Elizaveta; Jia, Peipei; Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Heike; Monro, Tanya M.; François, Alexandre

2016-01-01

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) fiber sensor research has grown since the first demonstration over 20 year ago into a rich and diverse field with a wide range of optical fiber architectures, plasmonic coatings, and excitation and interrogation methods. Yet, the large diversity of SPR fiber sensor designs has made it difficult to understand the advantages of each approach. Here, we review SPR fiber sensor architectures, covering the latest developments from optical fiber geometries to plasmonic coatings. By developing a systematic approach to fiber-based SPR designs, we identify and discuss future research opportunities based on a performance comparison of the different approaches for sensing applications. PMID:28025532

Optical fiber nanoprobe preparation for near-field optical microscopy by chemical etching under surface tension and capillary action.

PubMed

Mondal, Samir K; Mitra, Anupam; Singh, Nahar; Sarkar, S N; Kapur, Pawan

2009-10-26

We propose a technique of chemical etching for fabrication of near perfect optical fiber nanoprobe (NNP). It uses photosensitive single mode optical fiber to etch in hydro fluoric (HF) acid solution. The difference in etching rate for cladding and photosensitive core in HF acid solution creates capillary ring along core-cladding boundary under a given condition. The capillary ring is filled with acid solution due to surface tension and capillary action. Finally it creates near perfect symmetric tip at the apex of the fiber as the height of the acid level in capillary ring decreases while width of the ring increases with continuous etching. Typical tip features are short taper length (approximately 4 microm), large cone angle (approximately 38 degrees ), and small probe tip dimension (<100 nm). A finite difference time domain (FDTD) analysis is also presented to compare near field optics of the NNP with conventional nanoprobe (CNP). The probe may be ideal for near field optical imaging and sensor applications.

On the possibilities of large-scale radio and fiber optics detectors in cosmic rays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gusev, G. A.; Markov, M. A.; Zheleznykh, I. M.

1985-01-01

Different variants of radio and fiber optics detectors for registration of super high energy cascades in the atmosphere and in dense media are discussed. Particularly the possibilities for investigation of quasi horizontal cosmic ray showers (CRS) and simulated muons from these CRS with the help of radio detectors and fiber optics detectors located on the ice surface are considered.

U-bent plastic optical fiber based plasmonic biosensor for nucleic acid detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gowri, A.; Sai, V. V. R.

2017-05-01

This study presents the development of low cost, rapid and highly sensitive plasmonic sandwich DNA biosensor using U-bent plastic optical fiber (POF) probes with high evanescent wave absorbance sensitivity and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as labels. Plastic optical fiber (PMMA core and fluorinated polymer as cladding) offer ease in machinability and handling due to which optimum U-bent geometry (with fiber and bend diameter of 0.5 and 1.5 mm respectively) for high sensitivity could be achieved. A sensitive fiber optic DNA biosensor is realized by (i) modifying the PMMA surface using ethylenediamine (EDA) in order to maximize the immobilization of capture oligonucleotides (ONs) and (ii) conjugating probe ONs to AuNP labels of optimum size ( 35 nm) with high extinction coefficient and optimal ON surface density. The sandwich hybridization assay on U-bent POF probes results in increase in optical absorbance through the probe with increase in target ON concentration due to the presence of increased number of AuNPs. The absorbance of light passing through the U-bent probe due to the presence of AuNP labels on its surface as result of sandwich DNA hybridization is measured using a halogen lamp and a fiber optic spectrometer. A picomolar limit of detection of target ON (0.2 pM or 1 pg/ml or 5 attomol in 25 μL) is achieved with this biosensing scheme, indicating its potential for the development of a highly sensitive DNA biosensor.

Investigation of Carbon-Polymer Structures with Embedded Fiber-Optic Bragg Gratings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant, Joseph; Kaul, R.; Taylor, S.; Myers, G.; Sharma, A.

2003-01-01

Several Bragg-grating sensors fabricated within the same optical fiber are buried within multiple-ply carbon-epoxy planar and cylindrical structures. Effect of different orientation of fiber-sensors with respect to carbon fibers in the composite structure is investigated. This is done for both fabric and uni-tape material samples. Response of planar structures to axial and transverse strain up to 1 millistrain is investigated with distributed Bragg-grating sensors. Material properties like Young's Modulus and Poisson ratio is measured. A comparison is made between response measured by sensors in different ply-layers and those bonded on the surface. The results from buried fiber- sensors do not completely agree with surface bonded conventional strain gauges. A plausible explanation is given for observed differences. The planar structures are subjected to impacts with energies up to 10 ft-lb. Effect of this impact on the material stiffness is also investigated with buried fiber-optic Bragg sensors. The strain response of such optical sensors is also measured for cylindrical carbon-epoxy composite structures. The sensors are buried within the walls of the cylinder as well as surface bonded in both the axial as well as hoop directions. The response of these fiber-optic sensors is investigated by pressurizing the cylinder up to its burst pressure of around 1500 psi. This is done at both room temperature as well as cryogenic temperatures. The recorded response is compared with that from a conventional strain gauge.

Evaluating inner surface roughness of inline/picoliter fiber optic spectrometer fabricated by an NUV femtosecond laser drilling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiraishi, Masahiko; Kubodera, Shoichi; Watanabe, Kazuhiro

2017-05-01

We have evaluated inner surface roughness of inline/picoliter fiber optic spectrometer fabricated by an NUV femtosecond laser drilling. A microhole fabricated by the femtosecond laser without breaking off works as inline/picoliter fiber optic spectrometer. The attractive feature of the spectrometer is very small sensing volume which has several tens of picoliter. A second harmonic 400 nm femtosecond laser with 350 fs pulse duration launched onto the glass fiber optic. A high aspect ratio of the microhole was fabricated after 1000 pulse shots, but there was inner surface roughness. Although the repetition rate was changed 10 to 1000 Hz in order to control the inner surface roughness, the inner surface roughness was occurred in each case. It was confirmed that ablated fused silica particles deposited on the inner surface of microhole. The depth of microhole was deepened with 1 kHz of repetition rate and number of 1000 shots. In comparison to 10 Hz, the depth of microhole was increased by approximately 80%. It was assumed that heat accumulation effect enlarged the length of drilling. In order to minimize inner surface roughness, the best method is to use low number laser shots. After 100 pulse shots with 30 μJ of pulse energy, an optical inner surface quality of microhole was acquired. The optical inner surface quality of microhole was verified by measuring the transmittance of 94% of infrared light emission launched from superluminescent diode in the case of 100 pulse shots with 20 μJ. The transmittance decreased to 52% changing the microhole fabricated by 30 μJ with 100 laser shots because of increasing interaction area between the microhole and propagating light.

The wavelength-tunable tapered surface plasmon resonance fiber sensor based on separated input-output channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shimeng; Liu, Yun; Gao, Xiaotong; Liu, Xiuxin; Peng, Wei

2014-11-01

We present a wavelength-tunable tapered optics fiber surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor by polishing the end faces of multimode fibers(MMF).Two hard plastic clad optical fibers joint closely and are used as the light input and output channels. Their end faces are polished to produce two oblique planes, which are coated with gold film to be the sensing surface and the front mirror. The presence of the tapered geometry formed by the two oblique planes in the orthogonal directions makes it possible to adjust incident angle through changing the tilt angles of the two end faces, so as to achieve tuning the SPR coupling wavelength-angle pair. Compared with previous researches based a tapered optic fiber probe, we report the approach theoretically increase the signal noise ratio (SNR) by separating incident and emergent light propagating in the different coordinate fiber. Since fabricating the sensing surface and the front mirror on the two fibers to replace one single fiber tip, there is more incident light can reach the sensing surface and satisfy SPR effective. In addition, this improvement in structure has advantages of large grinding and sensing area, which can lead to high sensitivity and simple manufacture process of the sensor. Experimental measurement demonstrates the sensor has a favorable SPR resonanceabsorption and the ability of measuring refractive index (RI) of aqueous solution. This novel tapered SPR sensor has the potential to be applied to the biological sensing field.

Tapered Optical Fiber Probe Assembled with Plasmonic Nanostructures for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Application.

PubMed

Huang, Zhulin; Lei, Xing; Liu, Ye; Wang, Zhiwei; Wang, Xiujuan; Wang, Zhaoming; Mao, Qinghe; Meng, Guowen

2015-08-12

Optical fiber-Raman devices integrated with plasmonic nanostructures have promising potentials for in situ probing remote liquid samples and biological samples. In this system, the fiber probe is required to simultaneously demonstrate stable surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals and high sensitivity toward the target species. Here we demonstrate a generic approach to integrate presynthesized plasmonic nanostructures with tapered fiber probes that are prepared by a dipping-etching method, through reversed electrostatic attraction between the silane couple agent modified silica fiber probe and the nanostructures. Using this approach, both negatively and positively charged plasmonic nanostructures with various morphologies (such as Au nanosphere, Ag nanocube, Au nanorod, Au@Ag core-shell nanorod) can be stably assembled on the tapered silica fiber probes. Attributed to the electrostatic force between the plasmonic units and the fiber surface, the nanostructures do not disperse in liquid samples easily, making the relative standard deviation of SERS signals as low as 2% in analyte solution. Importantly, the detection sensitivity of the system can be optimized by adjusting the cone angle (from 3.6° to 22°) and the morphology of nanostructures assembled on the fiber. Thus, the nanostructures-sensitized optical fiber-Raman probes show great potentials in the applications of SERS-based environmental detection of liquid samples.

Integrated optical-fiber capillary electrophoresis microchips with novel spin-on-glass surface modification.

PubMed

Lin, Che-Hsin; Lee, Gwo-Bin; Fu, Lung-Ming; Chen, Shu-Hui

2004-07-30

This paper presents a novel micro-capillary electrophoresis (CE) chip with embedded optical fibers for the on-line detection of DNA samples. The optical fibers are pre-etched and then inserted directly into fiber channels incorporated within low-cost soda-lime glass substrates. The embedded optical fibers are precisely aligned with the microfluidic channels such that the induced fluorescence signals from labeled bio-samples can be detected. This arrangement avoids the requirement for delicate optical alignment procedures and equipment. Surface modification of the CE channels is accomplished by means of a simple and reliable organic-based spin-on-glass (SOG) method. The zeta potential distribution and the corresponding electroosmotic mobility of the fluid are simulated numerically for the modified and non-modified channel surfaces, and then both sets of results are verified experimentally. The present results indicate that the value of the zeta potential for a surface with an SOG coating is 19.3 times smaller than that of an untreated surface. A phiX-174 DNA marker fluid is used to evaluate the injection and separation performance of the developed micro-CE device. Furthermore, the long-term stability of the SOG-coated surface is also investigated. The experimental data reveal that the microchip device is capable of providing highly efficient separations of bio-molecules, and that the SOG layer retains its low zeta potential characteristics for at least 45 days. The present results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed micro-CE chip in performing the on-line detection of DNA samples, and indicate that the SOG process represents a simple and reliable solution for the surface modification of glass-based microchannels.

Optical cross-talk and surface characterization of SERS nanoimaging bundle substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiser, John B.; Cullum, Brian M.

2010-04-01

Due to the narrow vibrational bandwidths and unique molecular fingerprints, Raman spectroscopy can be an information rich transduction technique for chemical imaging. Dynamic systems are often difficult to measure using spontaneous Raman due to the relatively weak scattering cross-sections. Using a Raman enhancement mechanism such as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), exposure times can be reduced to a reasonable level for dynamic imaging, due to the increased Raman signal intensity. This paper will discuss the development of a novel SERS substrate, fabricated on the tips of fiber-optic imaging bundles, which can be integrated into a multispectral imaging system for non-scanning chemical imaging. These substrates are fabricated by mechanically tapering a polished fiber optic imaging bundle consisting of 30,000 individual elements; producing 100-nm or smaller diameter core elements on the distal tip. Chemical etching with hydrofluoric acid creates uniform cladding spikes onto which a SERS active metal is vacuum deposited, forming the SERS active surface. By varying the size of the silver islands deposited on the cladding peaks active, surface plasmons can be tuned to various excitation frequencies. The surface of these tapered fiber optic probes will be evaluated by analysis of the SERS signal, location and shape of the active surface plasmons. The cross talk between the fiber elements will also be evaluated.

Structural and optical properties of antimony-germanate-borate glass and glass fiber co-doped Eu3+ and Ag nanoparticles.

PubMed

Zmojda, Jacek; Kochanowicz, Marcin; Miluski, Piotr; Baranowska, Agata; Pisarski, Wojciech A; Pisarska, Joanna; Jadach, Renata; Sitarz, Maciej; Dorosz, Dominik

2018-08-05

In the paper analysis of structural and luminescent properties of antimony-germanate-borate glasses and glass fiber co-doped with 0.6AgNO 3 /0.2Eu 2 O 3 are presented. Heat treatment of the fabricated glass and optical fiber (400 °C, 12 h) enabled to obtain Ag nanoparticles (NPs) with average size 30-50 nm on their surface. It has been proofed that silver ions migrate to the glass surface, where they are reduced to Ag 0 nanoparticles. Simultaneously, FTIR analysis showed that heat treatment of the glass and optical fiber increases the local symmetry of the Eu 3+ site. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Infrared fiber optic sensor for measurements of nonuniform temperature distributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belotserkovsky, Edward; Drizlikh, S.; Zur, Albert; Bar-Or, O.; Katzir, Abraham

1992-04-01

Infrared (IR) fiber optic radiometry of thermal surfaces offers several advantages over refractive optics radiometry. It does not need a direct line of sight to the measured thermal surface and combines high capability of monitoring small areas with high efficiency. These advantages of IR fibers are important in the control of nonuniform temperature distributions, in which the temperature of closely situated points differs considerably and a high spatial resolution is necessary. The theoretical and experimental transforming functions of the sensor during scanning of an area with a nonuniform temperature distribution were obtained and their dependence on the spacial location of the fiber and type of temperature distribution were analyzed. Parameters such as accuracy and precision were determined. The results suggest that IR fiber radiometric thermometry may be useful in medical applications such as laser surgery, hyperthermia, and hypothermia.

Alpha-fetoprotein detection by using a localized surface plasmon coupled fluorescence fiber-optic biosensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Ying-Feng; Chen, Ran-Chou; Li, Ying-Chang; Yu, Chih-Jen; Hsieh, Bao-Yu; Chou, Chien

2007-11-01

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detection by using a localized surface plasmon coupled fluorescence (LSPCF) fiber-optic biosensor is setup and experimentally demonstrated. It is based on gold nanoparticle (GNP) and coupled with localized surface plasmon wave on the surface of GNP. In this experiment, the fluorophores are labeled on anti-AFP which are bound to protein A conjugated GNP. Thus, LSPCF is excited with high efficiency in the near field of localized surface plasmon wave. Therefore, not only the sensitivity of LSPCF biosensor is enhanced but also the specific selectivity of AFP is improved. Experimentally, the ability of real time measurement in the range of AFP concentration from 0.1ng/ml to 100ng/ml was detected. To compare with conventional methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or radioimmunoassay (RIA), the LSPCF fiber-optic biosensor performs higher or comparable detection sensitivity, respectively.

Fiber Optic Wing Shape Sensing on NASA's Ikhana UAV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richards, Lance; Parker, Allen R.; Ko, William L.; Piazza, Anthony

2008-01-01

This document discusses the development of fiber optic wing shape sensing on NASA's Ikhana vehicle. The Dryden Flight Research Center's Aerostructures Branch initiated fiber-optic instrumentation development efforts in the mid-1990s. Motivated by a failure to control wing dihedral resulting in a mishap with the Helios aircraft, new wing displacement techniques were developed. Research objectives for Ikhana included validating fiber optic sensor measurements and real-time wing shape sensing predictions; the validation of fiber optic mathematical models and design tools; assessing technical viability and, if applicable, developing methodology and approaches to incorporate wing shape measurements within the vehicle flight control system; and, developing and flight validating approaches to perform active wing shape control using conventional control surfaces and active material concepts.

Laser mode conversion into a surface plasma wave in a metal coated optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, C. S.; Kumar, Gagan; Tripathi, V. K.

2006-07-01

An optical fiber, coated with thin metal film, supports two distinct kinds of waves, viz., body waves that propagate through the fiber as transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric modes, and surface plasma waves that propagate on metal free space interface. When the metal has a ripple of suitable wave number q, a body wave of frequency ω and propagation constant kz induces a current at ω ,kz+q in the ripple region that resonantly derives a surface plasma wave. When the metal surface has metallic particles attached to it and molecules are adsorbed on them, the surface plasma wave undergoes surface enhanced Raman scattering with them. The scattered signals propagate backward as a TM body wave and can be detected.

Surface-mount sapphire interferometric temperature sensor.

PubMed

Zhu, Yizheng; Wang, Anbo

2006-08-20

A fiber-optic high-temperature sensor is demonstrated by bonding a 45 degrees -polished single-crystal sapphire fiber on the surface of a sapphire wafer, whose optical thickness is temperature dependent and measured by white-light interferometry. A novel adhesive-free coupling between the silica and sapphire fibers is achieved by fusion splicing, and its performance is characterized. The sensor's interference signal is investigated for its dependence on angular alignment between the fiber and the wafer. A prototype sensor is tested to 1,170 degrees C with a resolution of 0.4 degrees C, demonstrating excellent potential for high-temperature measurement.

Fiber-optical switch using cam-micromotor driven by scratch drive actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanamori, Y.; Aoki, Y.; Sasaki, M.; Hosoya, H.; Wada, A.; Hane, K.

2005-01-01

We fabricated a 1 × 1 fiber-optic switch using a cam-micromotor driven by scratch drive actuators (SDAs). Using the cam-micromotor, mechanical translation and precise positioning of an optical fiber were performed. An optical fiber of diameter 50 µm was bent and pushed out with a cam-mechanism driven by the SDAs fabricated by surface micromachining. The maximum rotation speed of the cam-micromotor was 7.5 rpm at a driving frequency of 1.5 kHz. The transient time of the switch to attenuate coupling efficiency less than -40 dB was around 10 ms.

Fiber optic hydrophone

DOEpatents

Kuzmenko, P.J.; Davis, D.T.

1994-05-10

A miniature fiber optic hydrophone based on the principles of a Fabry-Perot interferometer is disclosed. The hydrophone, in one embodiment, includes a body having a shaped flexible bladder at one end which defines a volume containing air or suitable gas, and including a membrane disposed adjacent a vent. An optical fiber extends into the body with one end terminating in spaced relation to the membrane. Acoustic waves in the water that impinge on the bladder cause the pressure of the volume therein to vary causing the membrane to deflect and modulate the reflectivity of the Fabry-Perot cavity formed by the membrane surface and the cleaved end of the optical fiber disposed adjacent to the membrane. When the light is transmitted down the optical fiber, the reflected signal is amplitude modulated by the incident acoustic wave. Another embodiment utilizes a fluid filled volume within which the fiber optic extends. 2 figures.

A time-domain fluorescence diffusion optical tomography system for breast tumor diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Wei; Gao, Feng; Wu, LinHui; Ma, Wenjuan; Yang, Fang; Zhou, Zhongxing; Zhang, Limin; Zhao, Huijuan

2011-02-01

A prototype time-domain fluorescence diffusion optical tomography (FDOT) system using near-infrared light is presented. The system employs two pulsed light sources, 32 source fibers and 32 detection channels, working separately for acquiring the temporal distribution of the photon flux on the tissue surface. The light sources are provided by low power picosecond pulsed diode lasers at wavelengths of 780 nm and 830 nm, and a 1×32-fiber-optic-switch sequentially directs light sources to the object surface through 32 source fibers. The light signals re-emitted from the object are collected by 32 detection fibers connected to four 8×1 fiber-optic-switch and then routed to four time-resolved measuring channels, each of which consists of a collimator, a filter wheel, a photomultiplier tube (PMT) photon-counting head and a time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) channel. The performance and efficacy of the designed multi-channel PMT-TCSPC system are assessed by reconstructing the fluorescent yield and lifetime images of a solid phantom.

Optical Sensing using Fiber Bragg Gratings for Monitoring Structural Damage in Composite Over-Wrapped Vessels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant, Joseph

2005-01-01

Composite Over-Wrap Vessels are widely used in the aerospace community. They are made of thin-walled bottles that are over wrapped with high strength fibers embedded in a matrix material. There is a strong drive to reduce the weight of space borne vehicles and thus pushes designers to adopt COPVs that are over wrapped with graphite fibers embedded in its epoxy matrix. Unfortunately, this same fiber-matrix configuration is more susceptible to impact damage than others and to make matters worse; there is a regime where impacts that damage the over wrap leave no visible scar on the COPV surface. In this paper FBG sensors are presented as a means of monitoring and detecting these types of damage. The FBG sensors are surface mounted to the COPVs and optically interrogated to explore the structural properties of these composite pressure vessels. These gratings optically inscribed into the core of a single mode fiber are used as a tool to monitor the stress strain relation in the composite matrix. The response of these fiber-optic sensors is investigated by pressurizing the cylinder up to its burst pressure of around 4500 psi. A Fiber Optic Demodulation System built by Blue Road Research, is used for interrogation of the Bragg gratings.

Liquid droplet sensing using twisted optical fiber couplers fabricated by hydrofluoric acid flow etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Son, Gyeongho; Jung, Youngho; Yu, Kyoungsik

2017-04-01

We report a directional-coupler-based refractive index sensor and its cost-effective fabrication method using hydrofluoric acid droplet wet-etching and surface-tension-driven liquid flows. The proposed fiber sensor consists of a pair of twisted tapered optical fibers with low excess losses. The fiber cores in the etched microfiber region are exposed to the surrounding medium for efficient interaction with the guided light. We observe that the etching-based low-loss fiber-optic sensors can measure the water droplet volume by detecting the refractive index changes of the surrounding medium around the etched fiber core region.

Noninvasive blood pressure measurement scheme based on optical fiber sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xianxuan; Yuan, Xueguang; Zhang, Yangan

2016-10-01

Optical fiber sensing has many advantages, such as volume small, light quality, low loss, strong in anti-jamming. Since the invention of the optical fiber sensing technology in 1977, optical fiber sensing technology has been applied in the military, national defense, aerospace, industrial, medical and other fields in recent years, and made a great contribution to parameter measurement in the environment under the limited condition .With the rapid development of computer, network system, the intelligent optical fiber sensing technology, the sensor technology, the combination of computer and communication technology , the detection, diagnosis and analysis can be automatically and efficiently completed. In this work, we proposed a noninvasive blood pressure detection and analysis scheme which uses optical fiber sensor. Optical fiber sensing system mainly includes the light source, optical fiber, optical detector, optical modulator, the signal processing module and so on. wavelength optical signals were led into the optical fiber sensor and the signals reflected by the human body surface were detected. By comparing actual testing data with the data got by traditional way to measure the blood pressure we can establish models for predicting the blood pressure and achieve noninvasive blood pressure measurement by using spectrum analysis technology. Blood pressure measurement method based on optical fiber sensing system is faster and more convenient than traditional way, and it can get accurate analysis results in a shorter period of time than before, so it can efficiently reduce the time cost and manpower cost.

Nanoparticles based fiber optic SPR sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shah, Kruti; Sharma, Navneet K.

2018-05-01

Localized surface plasmon resonance based fiber optic sensor using platinum nanoparticles is proposed and theoretically analyzed. Increase in thickness of nanoparticles layer increases the sensitivity of sensor. 50 nm thick platinum nanoparticles layer based sensor reveals highest sensitivity.

Fast and accurate determination of the detergent efficiency by optical fiber sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patitsa, Maria; Pfeiffer, Helge; Wevers, Martine

2011-06-01

An optical fiber sensor was developed to control the cleaning efficiency of surfactants. Prior to the measurements, the sensing part of the probe is covered with a uniform standardized soil layer (lipid multilayer), and a gold mirror is deposited at the end of the optical fiber. For the lipid multilayer deposition on the fiber, Langmuir-Blodgett technique was used and the progress of deposition was followed online by ultraviolet spectroscopy. The invention provides a miniaturized Surface Plasmon Resonance dip-sensor for automated on-line testing that can replace the cost and time consuming existing methods and develop a breakthrough in detergent testing in combining optical sensing, surface chemistry and automated data acquisition. The sensor is to be used to evaluate detergency of different cleaning products and also indicate how formulation, concentration, lipid nature and temperature affect the cleaning behavior of a surfactant.

Fiber optic probe enabled by surface-enhanced Raman scattering for early diagnosis of potential acute rejection of kidney transplant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chi, Jingmao; Chen, Hui; Tolias, Peter; Du, Henry

2014-06-01

We have explored the use of a fiber-optic probe with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing modality for early, noninvasive and, rapid diagnosis of potential renal acute rejection (AR) and other renal graft dysfunction of kidney transplant patients. Multimode silica optical fiber immobilized with colloidal Ag nanoparticles at the distal end was used for SERS measurements of as-collected urine samples at 632.8 nm excitation wavelength. All patients with abnormal renal graft function (3 AR episodes and 2 graft failure episodes) who were clinically diagnosed independently show common unique SERS spectral features in the urines collected just one day after transplant. SERS-based fiber-optic probe has excellent potential to be a bedside tool for early diagnosis of kidney transplant patients for timely medical intervention of patients at high risk of transplant dysfunction.

Hermetic fiber optic-to-metal connection technique

DOEpatents

Kramer, Daniel P.

1992-09-01

A glass-to-glass hermetic sealing technique is disclosed which can be used to splice lengths of glass fibers together. A solid glass preform is inserted into the cavity of a metal component which is then heated to melt the glass. An end of an optical fiber is then advanced into the molten glass and the entire structure cooled to solidify the glass in sealing engagement with the optical fiber end and the metal cavity. The surface of the re-solidified glass may be machined for mating engagement with another component to make a spliced fiber optic connection. The resultant structure has a helium leak rate of less than 1.times.10.sup.-8 cm.sup.3 /sec.

Development of an optical fiber interferometer for detection of surface flaws in aluminum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gilbert, John A.

1991-01-01

The main objective was to demonstrate the potential of using an optical fiber interferometer (OFI) to detect surface flaws in aluminum samples. Standard ultrasonic excitation was used to generate Rayleigh surface waves. After the waves interacted with a defect, the modified responses were detected using the OFI and the results were analyzed for time-of-flight and frequency content to predict the size and location of the flaws.

On the mechanical coupling of a fiber optic cable used for distributed acoustic/vibration sensing applications—a theoretical consideration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reinsch, Thomas; Thurley, Tom; Jousset, Philippe

2017-12-01

In recent years, fiber optic cables are increasingly used for the acquisition of dynamic strain changes for seismic surveys. When considering seismic amplitudes, one of the first questions arising is the mechanical coupling between optical fiber and the surrounding medium. Here we analyse the interaction of ground movement with a typical telecom-grade fiber optic cable from an existing telecommunication network deployed in a sand filled trench at the surface. Within the cable, the optical fiber is embedded in a gel-filled plastic tube. We apply Hooke’s law to calculate the stress needed to strain the optical fiber throughout the cable structure. In case the stress magnitude at the cable-sand interface as well as the gel-optical fiber interface is below the yield strength of the respective material, sand and gel, it can be regarded as an elastic medium. Hence, a multilayer radial symmetric model can be used to calculate the coupling of the optical fiber with the surrounding medium. We show that the transfer function has a -3 dB lower cut-off wavelength of about 22 m. The magnitude response of this telecom-grade fiber optic cable is therefore almost perfect at typical low frequency seismic waves. The approach presented here can be applied to various cable designs to estimate the strain transfer between ground movement and an optical fiber.

Fabrication of fiber-optic localized surface plasmon resonance sensor and its application to detect antibody-antigen reaction of interferon-gamma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, Hyeon-Ho; Erdene, Norov; Lee, Seung-Ki; Jeong, Dae-Hong; Park, Jae-Hyoung

2011-12-01

A fiber-optic localized surface plasmon (FO LSPR) sensor was fabricated by gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) immobilized on the end-face of an optical fiber. When Au NPs were formed on the end-face of an optical fiber by chemical reaction, Au NPs aggregation occurred and the Au NPs were immobilized in various forms such as monomers, dimers, trimers, etc. The component ratio of the Au NPs on the end-face of the fabricated FO LSPR sensor was slightly changed whenever the sensors were fabricated in the same condition. Including this phenomenon, the FO LSPR sensor was fabricated with high sensitivity by controlling the density of Au NPs. Also, the fabricated sensors were measured for the resonance intensity for the different optical systems and analyzed for the effect on sensitivity. Finally, for application as a biosensor, the sensor was used for detecting the antibody-antigen reaction of interferon-gamma.

Stress corrosion in silica optical fibers: Review of fatigue testing procedures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Severin, Irina; Borda, Claudia; Dumitrache-Rujinski, Alexandru; Caramihai, Mihai; Abdi, Rochdi El

2018-02-01

The expected lifetime of optical fibers used either in telecommunication technologies or smart applications are closely related to the chemical reaction on the silica network. Due to the manufacturing processes or the handling procedures, the flaws spread on the fiber surface are inherently present. The aging mechanism is assumed to enlarge or to extend these flaws. Based on systematic experiments one may notice that water may induce a certain curing effect. Silica optical fibers have been aged in water; series of samples have been subjected to overlapped stretching or bending. Other series have been subjected to overlapped aging effect of microwaves and hot water. Finally, samples were submitted to dynamic tensile testing. The Weibull's diagram analysis shows mono or bimodal dispersions of flaws on the fiber surface, but the polymer coating appears vital for fiber lifetime. While humidity usually affects the fiber strength, the series of testing has revealed that in controlled conditions of chemical environment and controlled applied stress, fiber strength may be increased. A similar effect may be obtained by external factors such as microwaves or previous elongation, too.

Local scattering stress distribution on surface of a spherical cell in optical stretcher

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bareil, Paul B.; Sheng, Yunlong; Chiou, Arthur

2006-12-01

We calculate stress distribution on the surface of a spherical cell trapped by two counter propagating beams in the optical stretcher in the ray optics regime. We demonstrate that the local scattering stress is perpendicular to the spherical refractive surface regardless of incident angle, polarization and the reflectance and transmittance at the surface. We explain the apparition of peaks in the stress distribution, which were not revealed in the existing theory. We consider the divergence of the incident beams from the fibers, and express the stress distribution as a function of fiber-to-cell distance. The new theory can predict the cell’s deformation more precisely.

Process for sensing defects on a smooth cylindrical interior surface in tubing

DOEpatents

Dutton, G. Wayne

1987-11-17

The cylindrical interior surface of small diameter metal tubing is optically inspected to determine surface roughness by passing a slightly divergent light beam to illuminate the entire interior surface of the tubing. Impingement of the input light beam components on any rough spots on the interior surface generates forward and backward scattered radiation components. The forward scattered components can be measured by blocking direct and specular radiation components exiting the tubing while allowing the forward scattered radiation to travel past the blocking location. Collecting optics are employed to converge the forward scattered radiation onto a photodetector generating a signal indicative of surface roughness. In the back scattered mode, back scattered radiation exiting the tubing through the entrance opening is reflected 90.degree. by a beam splitter towards collecting optics and a photodetector. Alternatively, back scattered radiation can be transmitted through a fiber optic bundle towards the collecting optics. The input light beam can be supplied through a white light fiber optic bundle mounted coaxial with the first bundle.

Process for sensing defects on a smooth cylindrical interior surface in tubing

DOEpatents

Dutton, G.W.

1987-11-17

The cylindrical interior surface of small diameter metal tubing is optically inspected to determine surface roughness by passing a slightly divergent light beam to illuminate the entire interior surface of the tubing. Impingement of the input light beam components on any rough spots on the interior surface generates forward and backward scattered radiation components. The forward scattered components can be measured by blocking direct and specular radiation components exiting the tubing while allowing the forward scattered radiation to travel past the blocking location. Collecting optics are employed to converge the forward scattered radiation onto a photodetector generating a signal indicative of surface roughness. In the back scattered mode, back scattered radiation exiting the tubing through the entrance opening is reflected 90[degree] by a beam splitter towards collecting optics and a photodetector. Alternatively, back scattered radiation can be transmitted through a fiber optic bundle towards the collecting optics. The input light beam can be supplied through a white light fiber optic bundle mounted coaxial with the first bundle. 6 figs.

Process and apparatus for sensing defects on a smooth cylindrical surface in tubing

DOEpatents

Dutton, G.W.

1985-08-05

The cylindrical interior surface of small diameter metal tubing is optically inspected to determine surface roughness by passing a slightly divergent light beam to illuminate the entire interior surface of the tubing. Impingement of the input light beam components on any rough spots on the interior surface generates forward and backward scattered radiation components. The forward scattered components can be measured by blocking direct and specular radiation components exiting the tubing while allowing the forward scattered radiation to travel past the blocking location. Collecting optics are employed to converge the forward scattered radiation onto a photodetector generating a signal indicative of surface roughness. In the back scattered mode, back scattered radiation exiting the tubing through the entrance opening is reflected 90/sup 0/ by a beam splitter towards collecting optics and a photodetector. Alternatively, back scattered radiation can be transmitted through a fiber optic bundle towards the collecting optics. The input light beam can be supplied through a white light fiber optic bundle mounted coaxial with the first bundle.

Study of interface influence on bending performance of CFRP with embedded optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Rong-mei; Liang, Da-kai

2008-11-01

Studies showed that the bending strength of composite would be affected by embedded optical fibers. Interface strength between the embedded optical fiber and the matrix was studied in this paper. Based on the single fiber pull out tests, the interfacial shear strength between the coating and the clad is the weakest. The shear strength of the optical fiber used in this study is near to 0.8MPa. In order to study the interfacial effect on bending property of generic smart structure, a quasi-isotropic composite laminates were produced from Toray T300C/ epoxy prepreg. Optical fibers were embedded within different orientation plies of the plates, with the optical fibers embedded in the same direction. Accordingly, five different types of plates were produced. Impact tests were carried out on the 5 different plate types. It is shown that when the fiber was embedded at the upper layer, the bending strength drops mostly. The bending normal stress on material arrives at the maximum. So does the normal stress applied on the optical fiber at the surface. Therefore, destructions could originate at the interface between the coating and the clad foremost. The ultimate strength of the smart structure will be affected furthest.

Fiber optics welder having movable aligning mirror

DOEpatents

Higgins, Robert W.; Robichaud, Roger E.

1981-01-01

A system for welding fiber optic waveguides together. The ends of the two fibers to be joined together are accurately, collinearly aligned in a vertical orientation and subjected to a controlled, diffuse arc to effect welding and thermal conditioning. A front-surfaced mirror mounted at a 45.degree. angle to the optical axis of a stereomicroscope mounted for viewing the junction of the ends provides two orthogonal views of the interface during the alignment operation.

Fiber optics welder

DOEpatents

Higgins, R.W.; Robichaud, R.E.

A system is described for welding fiber optic waveguides together. The ends of the two fibers to be joined together are accurately, collinearly aligned in a vertical orientation and subjected to a controlled, diffuse arc to effect welding and thermal conditioning. A front-surfaced mirror mounted at a 45/sup 0/ angle to the optical axis of a stereomicroscope mounted for viewing the junction of the ends provides two orthogonal views of the interface during the alignment operation.

Self-compensating fiber optic flow sensor having an end of a fiber optics element and a reflective surface within a tube

DOEpatents

Peng, Wei; Qi, Bing; Wang, Anbo

2006-05-16

A flow rate fiber optic transducer is made self-compensating for both temperature and pressure by using preferably well-matched integral Fabry-Perot sensors symmetrically located around a cantilever-like structure. Common mode rejection signal processing of the outputs allows substantially all effects of both temperature and pressure to be compensated. Additionally, the integral sensors can individually be made insensitive to temperature.

Multi-channel fiber optic dew and humidity sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Limodehi, Hamid E.; Mozafari, Morteza; Amiri, Hesam; Légaré, François

2018-03-01

In this article, we introduce a multi-channel fiber optic dew and humidity sensor which works using a novel method based on relation between surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and water vapor condensation. The proposed sensor can instantly detect moisture or dew formation through its fiber optic channels, separately situated in different places. It enables to simultaneously measure the ambient Relative Humidity (RH) and dew point temperature of several environments with accuracy of 5%.

Fiber Optic Thermal Health Monitoring of Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Meng-Chou; Winfree, William P.; Moore, Jason P.

2010-01-01

A recently developed technique is presented for thermographic detection of flaws in composite materials by performing temperature measurements with fiber optic Bragg gratings. Individual optical fibers with multiple Bragg gratings employed as surface temperature sensors were bonded to the surfaces of composites with subsurface defects. The investigated structures included a 10-ply composite specimen with subsurface delaminations of various sizes and depths. Both during and following the application of a thermal heat flux to the surface, the individual Bragg grating sensors measured the temporal and spatial temperature variations. The data obtained from grating sensors were analyzed with thermal modeling techniques of conventional thermography to reveal particular characteristics of the interested areas. Results were compared with the calculations using numerical simulation techniques. Methods and limitations for performing in-situ structural health monitoring are discussed.

High frequency optical communications; Proceedings of the Meeting, Cambridge, MA, Sept. 23, 24, 1986

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramer, O. Glenn; Sierak, Paul

Topics discussed in this volume include systems and applications, detectors, sources, and coherent communications. Papers are presented on RF fiber optic links for avionics applications, fiber optics and optoelectronics for radar and electronic warfare applications, symmetric coplanar electrodes for high-speed Ti:LiNbO3 devices, and surface wave electrooptic modulator. Attention is given to X-band RF fiber-optic links, fiber-optic links for microwave signal transmission, GaAs monolithic receiver and laser driver for GHz transmission rates, and monolithically integrable high-speed photodetectors. Additional papers are on irregular and chaotic behavior of semiconductor lasers under modulation, high-frequency laser package for microwave optical communications, receiver modeling for coherent light wave communications, and polarization sensors and controllers for coherent optical communication systems.

An in-fiber integrated optofluidic device based on an optical fiber with an inner core.

PubMed

Yang, Xinghua; Yuan, Tingting; Teng, Pingping; Kong, Depeng; Liu, Chunlan; Li, Entao; Zhao, Enming; Tong, Chengguo; Yuan, Libo

2014-06-21

A new kind of optofluidic in-fiber integrated device based on a specially designed hollow optical fiber with an inner core is designed. The inlets and outlets are built by etching the surface of the optical fiber without damaging the inner core. A reaction region between the end of the fiber and a solid point obtained after melting is constructed. By injecting samples into the fiber, the liquids can form steady microflows and react in the region. Simultaneously, the emission from the chemiluminescence reaction can be detected from the remote end of the optical fiber through evanescent field coupling. The concentration of ascorbic acid (AA or vitamin C, Vc) is determined by the emission intensity of the reaction of Vc, H2O2, luminol, and K3Fe(CN)6 in the optical fiber. A linear sensing range of 0.1-3.0 mmol L(-1) for Vc is obtained. The emission intensity can be determined within 2 s at a total flow rate of 150 μL min(-1). Significantly, this work presents information for the in-fiber integrated optofluidic devices without spatial optical coupling.

Fiber-optic security monitoring sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Englund, Marja; Ipatti, Ari; Karioja, Pentti

1997-09-01

In security monitoring, fiber-optic sensors are advantageous because strong and rugged optical fibers are thin, light, flexible and immune to electromagnetic interference. Optical fibers packaged into cables, such as, building and underground cables, can be used to detect even slightest disturbances, movements, vibrations, pressure changes and impacts along their entire length. When running an optical cable around a structure, and when using speckle pattern recognition technique for alarm monitoring, the distributed monitoring of the structure is possible. The sensing cable can be strung along fences, buried underground, embedded into concrete, mounted on walls, floors and ceilings, or wrapped around the specific components. In this paper, a fiber-optic security monitoring sensor based on speckle pattern monitoring is described. The description of the measuring method and the results of the experimental fiber installations are given. The applicability of embedded and surface mounted fibers to monitor the pressure and impact induced vibrations of fences and concrete structures as well as the loosening of critical parts in a power plant machinery were demonstrated in field and laboratory conditions. The experiences related to the applications and optical cable types are also discussed.

Fiber optic security monitoring sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Englund, Marja; Ipatti, Ari; Karioja, Pentti

1997-09-01

In security monitoring, fiber-optic sensors are advantageous because strong and rugged optical fibers are thin, light, flexible and immune to electromagnetic interference. Optical fibers packaged into cables, such as, building and underground cables, can be used to detect even slightest disturbances, movements, vibrations, pressure changes and impacts along their entire length. When running an optical cable around a structure, and when using speckle pattern recognition technique for alarm monitoring, the distributed monitoring of the structure is possible. The sensing cable can be strung along fences, buried underground, embedded into concrete, mounted on walls, floors and ceilings, or wrapped around the specific components. In this paper, a fiber-optic security monitoring sensor based on speckle pattern monitoring is described. The description of the measuring method and the results of the experimental fiber installations are given. The applicability of embedded and surface mounted fibers to monitor the pressure and impact induced vibrations of fences and concrete structures as well as the loosening of critical parts in a power plant machinery were demonstrated in field and laboratory conditions. The experiences related to the applications and optical cable types are also discussed.

Optical fiber sensor technique for strain measurement

DOEpatents

Butler, Michael A.; Ginley, David S.

1989-01-01

Laser light from a common source is split and conveyed through two similar optical fibers and emitted at their respective ends to form an interference pattern, one of the optical fibers having a portion thereof subjected to a strain. Changes in the strain cause changes in the optical path length of the strain fiber, and generate corresponding changes in the interference pattern. The interference pattern is received and transduced into signals representative of fringe shifts corresponding to changes in the strain experienced by the strained one of the optical fibers. These signals are then processed to evaluate strain as a function of time, typical examples of the application of the apparatus including electrodeposition of a metallic film on a conductive surface provided on the outside of the optical fiber being strained, so that strains generated in the optical fiber during the course of the electrodeposition are measurable as a function of time. In one aspect of the invention, signals relating to the fringe shift are stored for subsequent processing and analysis, whereas in another aspect of the invention the signals are processed for real-time display of the strain changes under study.

Fiber Optic Sensors for Health Monitoring of Morphing Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Timothy; Wood, Karen; Childers, Brooks; Cano, Roberto; Jensen, Brian; Rogowski, Robert

2001-01-01

Fiber optic sensors are being developed for health monitoring of future aircraft. Aircraft health monitoring involves the use of strain, temperature, vibration and chemical sensors. These sensors will measure load and vibration signatures that will be used to infer structural integrity. Sine the aircraft morphing program assumes that future aircraft will be aerodynamically reconfigurable there is also a requirement for pressure, flow and shape sensors. In some cases a single fiber may be used for measuring several different parameters. The objective of the current program is to develop techniques for using optical fibers to monitor composite cure in real time during manufacture and to monitor in-service structural integrity of the composite structure. Graphite-epoxy panels were fabricated with integrated optical fibers of various types. The panels were mechanically and thermally tested to evaluate composite strength and sensor durability. Finally the performance of the fiber optic sensors was determined. Experimental results are presented evaluating the performance of embedded and surface mounted optical fibers for measuring strain, temperature and chemical composition. The performance of the fiber optic sensors was determined by direct comparison with results from more conventional instrumentation. The facilities for fabricating optical fiber and associated sensors and methods of demodulating Bragg gratings for strain measurement will be described.

Microgravity

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-02-05

Sections of ZBLAN fibers pulled in a conventional 1-g process (left) and in experiments aboard NASA's KC-135 low-gravity aircraft. The rough surface of the 1-g fiber indicates surface defects that would scatter an optical signal and greatly degrade its quality. ZBLAN is part of the family of heavy-metal fluoride glasses (fluorine combined zirconium, barium, lanthanum, aluminum, and sodium). NASA is conducting research on pulling ZBLAN fibers in the low-g environment of space to prevent crystallization that limits ZBLAN's usefulness in optical fiber-based communications. ZBLAN is a heavy-metal fluoride glass that shows exceptional promise for high-throughput communications with infrared lasers. Photo credit: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zediker, Mark S.; Rinzler, Charles C.; Faircloth, Brian O.

There is provided a system and apparatus for the transmission of high power laser energy over great distances without substantial power loss and without the presence of stimulated Raman scattering. There is further provided systems and optical fiber cable configurations and optical fiber structures for the delivering high power laser energy over great distances to a tool or surface to perform an operation or work with the tool or upon the surface.

Photogrammetric Verification of Fiber Optic Shape Sensors on Flexible Aerospace Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, Jason P.; Rogge, Matthew D.; Jones, Thomas W.

2012-01-01

Multi-core fiber (MCF) optic shape sensing offers the possibility of providing in-flight shape measurements of highly flexible aerospace structures and control surfaces for such purposes as gust load alleviation, flutter suppression, general flight control and structural health monitoring. Photogrammetric measurements of surface mounted MCF shape sensing cable can be used to quantify the MCF installation path and verify measurement methods.

Development of a fiber-guided laser ultrasonic system resilient to high temperature and gamma radiation for nuclear power plant pipe monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jinyeol; Lee, Hyeonseok; Lim, Hyung Jin; Kim, Nakhyeon; Yeo, Hwasoo; Sohn, Hoon

2013-08-01

This study develops an embeddable optical fiber-guided laser ultrasonic system for structural health monitoring (SHM) of pipelines exposed to high temperature and gamma radiation inside nuclear power plants (NPPs). Recently, noncontact laser ultrasonics is gaining popularity among the SHM community because of its advantageous characteristics such as (a) scanning capability, (b) immunity against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and (c) applicability to high-temperature surfaces. However, its application to NPP pipelines has been hampered because pipes inside NPPs are often covered by insulators and/or target surfaces are not easily accessible. To overcome this problem, this study designs embeddable optical fibers and fixtures so that laser beams used for ultrasonic inspection can be transmitted between the laser sources and the target pipe. For guided-wave generation, an Nd:Yag pulsed laser coupled with an optical fiber is used. A high-power pulsed laser beam is guided through the optical fiber onto a target structure. Based on the principle of laser interferometry, the corresponding response is measured using a different type of laser beam guided by another optical fiber. All devices are especially designed to sustain high temperature and gamma radiation. The robustness/resilience of the proposed measurement system installed on a stainless steel pipe specimen has been experimentally verified by exposing the specimen to high temperature of up to 350 °C and optical fibers to gamma radiation of up to 125 kGy (20 kGy h-1).

Chemically etched fiber tips for near-field optical microscopy: a process for smoother tips.

PubMed

Lambelet, P; Sayah, A; Pfeffer, M; Philipona, C; Marquis-Weible, F

1998-11-01

An improved method for producing fiber tips for scanning near-field optical microscopy is presented. The improvement consists of chemically etching quartz optical fibers through their acrylate jacket. This new method is compared with the previous one in which bare fibers were etched. With the new process the meniscus formed by the acid along the fiber does not move during etching, leading to a much smoother surface of the tip cone. Subsequent metallization is thus improved, resulting in better coverage of the tip with an aluminum opaque layer. Our results show that leakage can be avoided along the cone, and light transmission through the tip is spatially limited to an optical aperture of a 100-nm dimension.

A new fiber-optic non-contact compact laser-ultrasound scanner for fast non-destructive testing and evaluation of aircraft composites

PubMed Central

Pelivanov, Ivan; Buma, Takashi; Xia, Jinjun; Wei, Chen-Wei; O'Donnell, Matthew

2014-01-01

Laser ultrasonic (LU) inspection represents an attractive, non-contact method to evaluate composite materials. Current non-contact systems, however, have relatively low sensitivity compared to contact piezoelectric detection. They are also difficult to adjust, very expensive, and strongly influenced by environmental noise. Here, we demonstrate that most of these drawbacks can be eliminated by combining a new generation of compact, inexpensive fiber lasers with new developments in fiber telecommunication optics and an optimally designed balanced probe scheme. In particular, a new type of a balanced fiber-optic Sagnac interferometer is presented as part of an all-optical LU pump-probe system for non-destructive testing and evaluation of aircraft composites. The performance of the LU system is demonstrated on a composite sample with known defects. Wide-band ultrasound probe signals are generated directly at the sample surface with a pulsed fiber laser delivering nanosecond laser pulses at a repetition rate up to 76 kHz rate with a pulse energy of 0.6 mJ. A balanced fiber-optic Sagnac interferometer is employed to detect pressure signals at the same point on the composite surface. A- and B-scans obtained with the Sagnac interferometer are compared to those made with a contact wide-band polyvinylidene fluoride transducer. PMID:24737921

Numerical modelling on stimulated Brillouin scattering characterization for Graphene-clad tapered silica fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hui Jing; Abdullah, Fairuz; Ismail, Aiman

2017-11-01

This paper presents finite numerical modelling on the cross-sectional region of tapered single mode fiber and graphene-clad tapered fiber. Surface acoustic wave propagation across the tapered surface region on tapered single mode fiber has a high threshold power at 61.87 W which is challenging to overcome by the incident pump wave. Surface acoustic wave propagation of fiber surface however made tapered wave plausible in the optical sensor application. This research introduces graphene as the cladding layer on tapered fiber, acoustic confinement occurs due to the graphene cladding which lowers the threshold power from 61.87 W to 2.17 W.

Optical Antenna Arrays on a Fiber Facet for In Situ Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection

PubMed Central

Smythe, Elizabeth J.; Dickey, Michael D.; Bao, Jiming; Whitesides, George M.

2009-01-01

This paper reports a bidirectional fiber optic probe for the detection of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). One facet of the probe features an array of gold optical antennas designed to enhance Raman signal, while the other facet of the fiber is used for the input and collection of light. Simultaneous detection of benzenethiol and 2-[(E)-2-pyridin-4-ylethenyl]pyridine is demonstrated through a 35 cm long fiber. The array of nanoscale optical antennas was first defined by electron-beam lithography on a silicon wafer. The array was subsequently stripped from the wafer and then transferred to the facet of a fiber. Lithographic definition of the antennas provides a method for producing two-dimensional arrays with well-defined geometry, which allows (i) the optical response of the probe to be tuned and (ii) the density of ‘hot spots’ generating the enhanced Raman signal to be controlled. It is difficult to determine the Raman signal enhancement factor (EF) of most fiber optic Raman sensors featuring ‘hot spots’ because the geometry of the Raman enhancing nanostructures is poorly defined. The ability to control the size and spacing of the antennas enables the EF of the transferred array to be estimated. EF values estimated after focusing a laser directly onto the transferred array ranged from 2.6 × 105 to 5.1 × 105. PMID:19236032

Laser ablation system, and method of decontaminating surfaces

DOEpatents

Ferguson, Russell L.; Edelson, Martin C.; Pang, Ho-ming

1998-07-14

A laser ablation system comprising a laser head providing a laser output; a flexible fiber optic cable optically coupled to the laser output and transmitting laser light; an output optics assembly including a nozzle through which laser light passes; an exhaust tube in communication with the nozzle; and a blower generating a vacuum on the exhaust tube. A method of decontaminating a surface comprising the following steps: providing an acousto-optic, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser light ablation system having a fiber optically coupled output optics assembly; and operating the laser light ablation system to produce an irradiance greater than 1.times.10.sup.7 W/cm.sup.2, and a pulse width between 80 and 170 ns.

Detection of adulteration in diesel and petrol by kerosene using SPR based fiber optic technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verma, Rajneesh K.; Suwalka, Payal; Yadav, Jatin

2018-07-01

In this paper we focused on the experimental investigations for fabricating a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based fiber optic sensor for the detection of the extent of adulteration in petrochemicals: petrol and diesel by kerosene. Primarily it is observed that the refractive index of the petrol and diesel changes if we mix kerosene in it. The variation in refractive index is linear in nature. Utilizing the phenomenon of surface plasmon resonance in Krestchmann configuration on optical fiber, the percentage of adulteration in petrol and diesel is detected. The detection level of adulteration is quantified systematically for both the petrol and diesel. The study carried out here explores the possibility of utilizing SPR technique for the detection of the level of adulteration in petrochemicals. The suitability of the optical fiber for remote sensing and its immunity towards electromagnetic interaction makes this probe very useful for such endeavor. High sensitivity, easy construction and its portability, makes this study important in the development of SPR based optical fiber sensors for petrochemical industries. Apart from this various aspects of environment polluting hazardous/toxic gases as an emission product of automobile fuels has also been discussed.

An optical fiber guided ultrasonic excitation and sensing system for online monitoring of nuclear power plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, J.; Lee, H.; Sohn, H.

2012-05-01

This study presents an embedded laser ultrasonic system for pipeline monitoring under high temperature environment. Recently, laser ultrasonics is becoming popular because of their advantageous characteristics such as (a) noncontact inspection, (b) immunity against electromagnetic interference (EMI), and (c) applicability under high temperature. However, the performance of conventional laser ultrasonic techniques for pipeline monitoring has been limited because many pipelines are covered by insulating materials and target surfaces are inaccessible. To overcome the problem, this study designs an embeddable optical fibers and fixing devices that deliver laser beams from laser sources to a target pipe using embedded optical fibers. For guided wave generation, an optical fiber is furnished with a beam collimator for irradiating a laser beam onto a target structure. The corresponding response is measured based on the principle of laser interferometry. Light from a monochromatic source is colliminated and delivered to a target surface by another optical with a focusing module, and reflected light is transmitted back to the interferometer through the same fiber. The feasibility of the proposed system for embedded ultrasonic measurement has been experimentally verified using a pipe specimen under high temperature.

Composite material embedded fiber-optic Fabry-Perot strain rosette

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valis, Thomas; Hogg, Dayle; Measures, Raymond M.

1990-12-01

A fiber-optic strain rosette is embedded in Kevlar/epoxy. The individual arms of the rosette are fiber Fabry-Perot interferometers operated in reflection-mode with gauge (i.e., cavity) lengths of approximately 5 mm. Procedures for manufacturing the cavities, and bending the fibers, to form a strain rosette are described. Experimental results showing 2D interlaminar strain-tensor measurement are presented. The sensor is also tested as a surface adhered device.

Fiber optic device for sensing the presence of a gas

DOEpatents

Benson, David K.; Bechinger, Clemens S.; Tracy, C. Edwin

1998-01-01

A fiber-optic device for sensing the presence of a gas in an environment is provided. The device comprises a light source for directing a light beam to a layer system having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface is exposable to the light beam and the second surface is exposable to the environment. A first light portion encounters and reflects from the first surface at an angle of incidence free from optical wave guide resonance phenomenon and the second light portion encounters and reflects from the first surface at an angle of incidence enabling an optical wave guide resonance phenomenon. The layer system is selected to reversibly react with the gas to be detected. The reaction between the gas and the material changes the material's optical properties and the wavelength at which the optical wave guide resonance occurs. Furthermore, a mechanism for measuring the intensity of the reflected first light portion relative to the reflected second light portion is provided with the ratio of the first and second light portions indicating the concentration of the gas presence in the environment.

Theoretical Studies of Low-Loss Optical Fibers.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-15

on the fiber surface. Single-mode fiber operation is of interest in communications. Marcuse has shown that surface imperfections are a strong source...0.01 very small value of a : 8A at X = 1 vim Marcuse single mode 2.7 typical value of a = 1 jim, A : 10.6 vm, af = 37 Pim surface imperfections 55...Braunstein, "Scattering Losses in Single and Polycrystalline Materials for Infrared Fiber Applications," unpublished. 5. D. Marcuse , "Mode Conversion

Combined electromechanical impedance and fiber optic diagnosis of aerospace structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schlavin, Jon; Zagrai, Andrei; Clemens, Rebecca; Black, Richard J.; Costa, Joey; Moslehi, Behzad; Patel, Ronak; Sotoudeh, Vahid; Faridian, Fereydoun

2014-03-01

Electromechanical impedance is a popular diagnostic method for assessing structural conditions at high frequencies. It has been utilized, and shown utility, in aeronautic, space, naval, civil, mechanical, and other types of structures. By contrast, fiber optic sensing initially found its niche in static strain measurement and low frequency structural dynamic testing. Any low frequency limitations of the fiber optic sensing, however, are mainly governed by its hardware elements. As hardware improves, so does the bandwidth (frequency range * number of sensors) provided by the appropriate enabling fiber optic sensor interrogation system. In this contribution we demonstrate simultaneous high frequency measurements using fiber optic and electromechanical impedance structural health monitoring technologies. A laboratory specimen imitating an aircraft wing structure, incorporating surfaces with adjustable boundary conditions, was instrumented with piezoelectric and fiber optic sensors. Experiments were conducted at different structural boundary conditions associated with deterioration of structural health. High frequency dynamic responses were collected at multiple locations on a laboratory wing specimen and conclusions were drawn about correspondence between structural damage and dynamic signatures as well as correlation between electromechanical impedance and fiber optic sensors spectra. Theoretical investigation of the effect of boundary conditions on electromechanical impedance spectra is presented and connection to low frequency structural dynamics is suggested. It is envisioned that acquisition of high frequency structural dynamic responses with multiple fiber optic sensors may open new diagnostic capabilities for fiber optic sensing technologies.

Optical fiber sensors based on nanostructured coatings fabricated by means of the layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arregui, Francisco J.; Matías, Ignacio R.; Claus, Richard O.

2007-07-01

The Layer-by-Layer Electrostatic Self-Assembly (ESA) method has been successfully used for the design and fabrication of nanostructured materials. More specifically, this technique has been applied for the deposition of thin films on optical fibers with the purpose of fabricating different types of optical fiber sensors. In fact, optical fiber sensors for measuring humidity, temperature, pH, hydrogen peroxide, glucose, volatile organic compounds or even gluten have been already experimentally demonstrated. The versatility of this technique allows the deposition of these sensing coatings on flat substrates and complex geometries as well. For instance, nanoFabry-Perots and microgratings have been formed on cleaved ends of optical fibers (flat surfaces) and also sensing coatings have been built onto long period gratings (cylindrical shape), tapered fiber ends (conical shape), biconically tapered fibers or even the internal side of hollow core fibers. Among the different materials used for the construction of these sensing nanostructured coatings, diverse types such as polymers, inorganic semiconductors, colorimetric indicators, fluorescent dyes, quantum dots or even biological elements as enzymes can be found. This technique opens the door to the fabrication of new types of optical fiber sensors.

Laser backlight unit based on a leaky optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okuda, Yuuto; Onoda, Kousuke; Fujieda, Ichiro

2012-07-01

A backlight unit is constructed by laying out an optical fiber on a two-dimensional plane and letting the light leak out in a controlled manner. In experiment, we formed multiple grooves on the surface of a plastic optical fiber by pressing a heated knife edge. The depth of the groove determined the percentage of the optical power leaking out. The optical fiber with multiple grooves was embedded in an acrylic plate with a spiral trench, and a diffuser sheet was placed over it. When we injected laser light into the end of the optical fiber, this configuration successfully worked as an area illuminator. However, the coherent nature of the laser light caused severe speckle noise. We evaluated the speckle contrast under darkness, and it varied from 80% to 23%, depending on the lens aperture used to capture the images of the illuminator. We glued an ultrasound generator to the optical fiber to introduce phase modulation for the light propagating inside the optical fiber. In this way, the speckle contrast was reduced by a factor of seven to four. Under room lighting, the speckle noise was made barely noticeable by turning on the ultrasound generator.

Fiber optic apparatus for detecting molecular species by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

DOEpatents

Angel, S.M.; Sharma, S.K.

1988-11-01

Optrode apparatus for detecting constituents of a fluid medium includes an optical fiber having a metal coating on at least a portion of a light transmissive core. The metal is one, such as silver, gold or copper, which enhances emission of Raman signal frequencies by molecules adsorbed on the surface of the coating when monochromatic probe light of a different frequency is scattered by such molecules and the metal coating is sufficiently thin to transmit light between the absorbed molecules and the core of the fiber. Probe light is directed into one end of the fiber and a detector analyzes light emitted from the fiber for Raman frequencies that identify one or more particular molecular species. In one form, the optrode may function as a working electrode of an electrochemical cell while also serving to detect the products of oxidation or reduction reactions which occur at the electrode surface. 6 figs.

Fiber optic apparatus for detecting molecular species by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

DOEpatents

Angel, S.M.; Sharma, S.K.

1987-11-30

Optrode apparatus for detecting constituents of a fluid medium includes an optical fiber having a metal coating on at least a portion of a light transmissive core. The metal is one, such as silver, gold or copper, which enhances emission of Raman signal frequencies by molecules adsorbed on the surface of the coating when monochromatic probe light of a different frequency is scattered by such molecules and the metal coating is sufficiently thin to transmit light between the adsorbed molecules and the core of the fiber. Probe light is directed into one end of the fiber and a detector analyzes light emitted from the fiber for Raman frequencies that identify one or more particular molecular species. In one form, the optrode may function as a working electrode of an electrochemical cell while also serving to detect the products of oxidation or reduction reactions which occur at the electrode surface. 6 figs.

Graphene enhanced optical fiber SPR sensor for liquid concentration measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xue; Li, Xuegang; Cheng, TongLei; Li, Shuguang; An, Guowen

2018-07-01

A high sensitivity optical fiber Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensor which based on coreless optical fiber, silver film and graphene, has been designed and implemented for liquid concentration detection. In this paper, Graphene is firstly verified that it can be used to enhance the evanescent field of traditional optical fiber and thus increasing sensitivity in experiment. The sensitivity of proposed sensor is 6.417 nm/%, which is higher than that of the traditional optical fiber SPR sensor according to the comparative experiments. In addition, the proposed sensor is extremely easy to make and the silver film could be protected from oxidation and damage due to the existence of graphene. Moreover, the sensor has pretty small size, immunity to electromagnetic interference, quick response speed and thus can suitable a variety of severe environments and real-time measurement.

VCSEL fault location apparatus and method

DOEpatents

Keeler, Gordon A [Albuquerque, NM; Serkland, Darwin K [Albuquerque, NM

2007-05-15

An apparatus for locating a fault within an optical fiber is disclosed. The apparatus, which can be formed as a part of a fiber-optic transmitter or as a stand-alone instrument, utilizes a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) to generate a test pulse of light which is coupled into an optical fiber under test. The VCSEL is subsequently reconfigured by changing a bias voltage thereto and is used as a resonant-cavity photodetector (RCPD) to detect a portion of the test light pulse which is reflected or scattered from any fault within the optical fiber. A time interval .DELTA.t between an instant in time when the test light pulse is generated and the time the reflected or scattered portion is detected can then be used to determine the location of the fault within the optical fiber.

Interaction and dispersion of waveguide modes in an optical fiber with microirregularities of the core surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zadorin, A. S.; Kruglov, R. S.; Surkova, G. A.

2012-08-01

A self-consistent linear model is proposed for the transformation of the average intensity of the mode spectrum I( z) of the waveguide field in a multimode optical fiber with a stepped refractive index profile and the core having a rough surface. The model is based on the concept of the intermodal dispersion matrix of an elementary segment of the fiber, ∆, whose elements characterize the mutual transfer of energy between the waveguide modes, as well as their conversion to radiation modes on the specified interval. On this basis, the features of the transformation of the mode spectrum I( z) in a multimode optical fiber with a stepped refractive index profile are considered that is due to the effects of multiple dispersion of the signal by the stochastic irregularities of the duct. The effect of self-filtering of I( z) is described that results in the formation of a stable (normalized) distribution I*. The features of the normalization of the radiative damping of a group of modes I i ( z) in an optical fiber are considered.

Optical Spectroscopy of New Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

White, Susan M.; Arnold, James O. (Technical Monitor)

1993-01-01

Composites are currently used for a rapidly expanding number of applications including aircraft structures, rocket nozzles, thermal protection of spacecraft, high performance ablative surfaces, sports equipment including skis, tennis rackets and bicycles, lightweight automobile components, cutting tools, and optical-grade mirrors. Composites are formed from two or more insoluble materials to produce a material with superior properties to either component. Composites range from dispersion-hardened alloys to advanced fiber-reinforced composites. UV/VIS and FTIR spectroscopy currently is used to evaluate the bonding between the matrix and the fibers, monitor the curing process of a polymer, measure surface contamination, characterize the interphase material, monitor anion transport in polymer phases, characterize the void formation (voids must be minimized because, like cracks in a bulk material, they lead to failure), characterize the surface of the fiber component, and measure the overall optical properties for energy balances.

Nanostructured sapphire optical fiber for sensing in harsh environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hui; Liu, Kai; Ma, Yiwei; Tian, Fei; Du, Henry

2017-05-01

We describe an innovative and scalable strategy of transforming a commercial unclad sapphire optical fiber to an allalumina nanostructured sapphire optical fiber (NSOF) that overcomes decades-long challenges faced in the field of sapphire fiber optics. The strategy entails fiber coating with metal Al followed by subsequent anodization to form anodized alumina oxide (AAO) cladding of highly organized pore channel structure. We show that Ag nanoparticles entrapped in AAO show excellent structural and morphological stability and less susceptibility to oxidation for potential high-temperature surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). We reveal, with aid of numerical simulations, that the AAO cladding greatly increases the evanescent-field overlap both in power and extent and that lower porosity of AAO results in higher evanescent-field overlap. This work has opened the door to new sapphire fiber-based sensor design and sensor architecture.

Novel optoelectronic devices; Proceedings of the Meeting, The Hague, Netherlands, Mar. 31-Apr. 2, 1987

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, Michael J. (Editor)

1987-01-01

The present conference on novel optoelectronics discusses topics in the state-of-the-art in this field in the Netherlands, quantum wells, integrated optics, nonlinear optical devices and fiber-optic-based devices, ultrafast optics, and nonlinear optics and optical bistability. Attention is given to the production of fiber-optics for telecommunications by means of PCVD, lifetime broadening in quantum wells, nonlinear multiple quantum well waveguide devices, tunable single-wavelength lasers, an Si integrated waveguiding polarimeter, and an electrooptic light modulator using long-range surface plasmons. Also discussed are backward-wave couplers and reflectors, a wavelength-selective all-fiber switching matrix, the impact of ultrafast optics in high-speed electronics, the physics of low energy optical switching, and all-optical logical elements for optical processing.

Nuclear power plant prestressed concrete containment vessel structure monitoring during integrated leakage rate test using three kinds of fiber optic sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, Kaixing; Li, Jinke; Kong, Xianglong; Sun, Changsen; Zhao, Xuefeng

2017-04-01

After years of operation, the safety of the prestressed concrete containment vessel (PCCV) structure of Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is an important aspect. In order to detect the strength degradation and the structure deformation, several sensors such as vibrating wire strain gauge, invar wires and pendulums were installed in PCCV. However, the amounts of sensors above are limited due to the cost. Due to the well durability of fiber optic sensors, three kinds of fiber optic sensors were chosen to install on the surface of PCCV to monitor the deformation during Integrated Leakage Rate Test (ILRT). The three kinds of fiber optic sensors which had their own advantages and disadvantages are Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG), white light interferometry (WLI) and Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA). According to the measuring data, the three fiber optic sensors worked well during the ILRT. After the ILRT, the monitoring strain was recoverable thus the PCCV was still in the elastic stage. If these three kinds of fiber optic sensors are widely used in the PCCV, the unusual deformations are easier to detect. As a consequence, the three fiber optic sensors have good potential in the structure health monitoring of PCCV.

Analysis of the mechanics and deformation characteristics of optical fiber acceleration sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zong-kai; Bo, Yu-ming; Zhou, Ben-mou; Wang, Jun; Huang, Ya-dong

2016-10-01

The optical fiber sensor holds many advantages such as smaller volume, lighter weight, higher sensitivity, and stronger anti-interference ability, etc. It can be applied to oil exploration to improve the exploration efficiency, since the underground petroleum distribution can be obtained by detecting and analyzing the echo signals. In this paper, the cantilever beam optical fiber sensor was mainly investigated. Specifically, the finite element analysis method is applied to the numerical analysis of the changes and relations of the optical fiber rail slot elongation on the surface of the PC material fiber winding plate along with the changes of time and power under the action of sine force. The analysis results show that, when the upper and lower quality blocks are under the action of sine force, the cantilever beam optical fiber sensor structure can basically produce synchronized deformation along with the force. And the optical fiber elongation length basically has a linear relationship with the sine force within the time ranges of 0.2 0.4 and 0.6 0.8, which would be beneficial for the subsequent signal acquisition and data processing.

Large-pitch kagome-structured hollow-core photonic crystal fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Couny, F.; Benabid, F.; Light, P. S.

2006-12-01

We report the fabrication and characterization of a new type of hollow-core photonic crystal fiber based on large-pitch (˜12μm) kagome lattice cladding. The optical characteristics of the 19-cell, 7-cell, and single-cell core defect fibers include broad optical transmission bands covering the visible and near-IR parts of the spectrum with relatively low loss and low chromatic dispersion, no detectable surface modes and high confinement of light in the core. Various applications of such a novel fiber are also discussed, including gas sensing, quantum optics, and high harmonic generation.

Cylindrically distributing optical fiber tip for uniform laser illumination of hollow organs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buonaccorsi, Giovanni A.; Burke, T.; MacRobert, Alexander J.; Hill, P. D.; Essenpreis, Matthias; Mills, Timothy N.

1993-05-01

To predict the outcome of laser therapy it is important to possess, among other things, an accurate knowledge of the intensity and distribution of the laser light incident on the tissue. For irradiation of the internal surfaces of hollow organs, modified fiber tips can be used to shape the light distribution to best suit the treatment geometry. There exist bulb-tipped optical fibers emitting a uniform isotropic distribution of light suitable for the treatment of organs which approximate a spherical geometry--the bladder, for example. For the treatment of organs approximating a cylindrical geometry--e.g. the oesophagus--an optical fiber tip which emits a uniform cylindrical distribution of light is required. We report on the design, development and testing of such a device, the CLD fiber tip. The device was made from a solid polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) rod, 27 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter. One end was shaped and 'silvered' to form a mirror which reflected the light emitted from the delivery fiber positioned at the other end of the rod. The shape of the mirror was such that the light fell with uniform intensity on the circumferential surface of the rod. This surface was coated with BaSO4 reflectance paint to couple the light out of the rod and onto the surface of the tissue.

Measurement of chlorine concentration on steel surfaces via fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in double-pulse configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, X.; Le Berre, S.; Fobar, D. G.; Burger, M.; Skrodzki, P. J.; Hartig, K. C.; Motta, A. T.; Jovanovic, I.

2018-03-01

The corrosive environment provided by chlorine ions on the welds of stainless steel dry cask storage canisters for used nuclear fuel may contribute to the occurrence of stress corrosion cracking. We demonstrate the use of fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (FOLIBS) in the double-pulse (DP) configuration for high-sensitivity, remote measurement of the surface concentrations of chlorine compatible in constrained space and challenging environment characteristic for dry cask storage systems. Chlorine surface concentrations as low as 5 mg/m2 have been detected and quantified by use of a laboratory-based and a fieldable DP FOLIBS setup with the calibration curve approach. The compact final optics assembly in the fieldable setup is interfaced via two 25-m long optical fibers for high-power laser pulse delivery and plasma emission collection and can be readily integrated into a multi-sensor robotic delivery system for in-situ inspection of dry cask storage systems.

Ultra-low-loss optical fiber nanotapers.

PubMed

Brambilla, Gilberto; Finazzi, Vittoria; Richardson, David

2004-05-17

Optical fiber tapers with a waist size larger than 1microm are commonplace in telecommunications and sensor applications. However the fabrication of low-loss optical fiber tapers with subwavelength diameters was previously thought to be impractical due to difficulties associated with control of the surface roughness and diameter uniformity. In this paper we show that very-long ultra-low-loss tapers can in fact be produced using a conventional fiber taper rig incorporating a simple burner configuration. For single-mode operation, the optical losses we achieve at 1.55microm are one order of magnitude lower than losses previously reported in the literature for tapers of a similar size. SEM images confirm excellent taper uniformity. We believe that these low-loss structures should pave the way to a whole range of fiber nanodevices.

Patterning of Spiral Structure on Optical Fiber by Focused-Ion-Beam Etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mekaru, Harutaka; Yano, Takayuki

2012-06-01

We produce patterns on minute and curved surfaces of optical fibers, and develop a processing technology for fabricating sensors, antennas, electrical circuits, and other devices on such patterned surfaces by metallization. A three-dimensional processing technology can be used to fabricate a spiral coil on the surface of cylindrical quartz materials, and then the microcoils can also be applied to capillaries of micro-fluid devices, as well as to receiver coils connected to a catheter and an endoscope of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems used in imaging blood vessels. To create a spiral line pattern with a small linewidth on a full-circumference surface of an optical fiber, focused-ion-beam (FIB) etching was employed. Here, a simple rotation stage comprising a dc motor and an LR3 battery was built. However, during the development of a prototype rotation stage before finalizing a large-scale remodelling of our FIB etching system, a technical problem was encountered where a spiral line could not be processed without running into breaks and notches in the features. It turned out that the problem was caused by axis blur resulting from an eccentric spinning (or wobbling) of the axis of the fiber caused by its unrestrained free end. The problem was solved by installing a rotation guide and an axis suppression device onto the rotation stage. Using this improved rotation stage. we succeeded in the seamless patterning of 1-µm-wide features on the full-circumference surface of a 250-µm-diameter quartz optical fiber (QOF) by FIB etching.

Fiber optic hydrogen sensor

DOEpatents

Buchanan, B.R.; Prather, W.S.

1991-01-01

Apparatus and method for detecting a chemical substance by exposing an optic fiber having a core and a cladding to the chemical substance so that the chemical substance can be adsorbed onto the surface of the cladding. The optic fiber is coiled inside a container having a pair of valves for controlling the entrance and exit of the substance. Light from a light source is received by one end of the optic fiber, preferably external to the container, and carried by the core of the fiber. Adsorbed substance changes the transmissivity of the fiber as measured by a spectrophotometer at the other end, also preferably external to the container. Hydrogen is detected by the absorption of infrared light carried by an optic fiber with a silica cladding. Since the adsorption is reversible, a sensor according to the present invention can be used repeatedly. Multiple positions in a process system can be monitored using a single container that can be connected to each location to be monitored so that a sample can be obtained for measurement, or, alternatively, containers can be placed near each position and the optic fibers carrying the partially-absorbed light can be multiplexed for rapid sequential reading, by a single spectrophotometer.

Fiber optic hydrogen sensor

DOEpatents

Buchanan, B.R.; Prather, W.S.

1992-10-06

An apparatus and method are described for detecting a chemical substance by exposing an optic fiber having a core and a cladding to the chemical substance so that the chemical substance can be adsorbed onto the surface of the cladding. The optic fiber is coiled inside a container having a pair of valves for controlling the entrance and exit of the substance. Light from a light source is received by one end of the optic fiber, preferably external to the container, and carried by the core of the fiber. Adsorbed substance changes the transmissivity of the fiber as measured by a spectrophotometer at the other end, also preferably external to the container. Hydrogen is detected by the absorption of infrared light carried by an optic fiber with a silica cladding. Since the adsorption is reversible, a sensor according to the present invention can be used repeatedly. Multiple positions in a process system can be monitored using a single container that can be connected to each location to be monitored so that a sample can be obtained for measurement, or, alternatively, containers can be placed near each position and the optic fibers carrying the partially-absorbed light can be multiplexed for rapid sequential reading by a single spectrophotometer. 4 figs.

Fiber optic hydrogen sensor

DOEpatents

Buchanan, Bruce R.; Prather, William S.

1992-01-01

An apparatus and method for detecting a chemical substance by exposing an optic fiber having a core and a cladding to the chemical substance so that the chemical substance can be adsorbed onto the surface of the cladding. The optic fiber is coiled inside a container having a pair of valves for controlling the entrance and exit of the substance. Light from a light source is received by one end of the optic fiber, preferably external to the container, and carried by the core of the fiber. Adsorbed substance changes the transmissivity of the fiber as measured by a spectrophotometer at the other end, also preferably external to the container. Hydrogen is detected by the absorption of infrared light carried by an optic fiber with a silica cladding. Since the adsorption is reversible, a sensor according to the present invention can be used repeatedly. Multiple positions in a process system can be monitored using a single container that can be connected to each location to be monitored so that a sample can be obtained for measurement, or, alternatively, containers can be placed near each position and the optic fibers carrying the partially-absorbed light can be multiplexed for rapid sequential reading by a single spectrophotometer.

Optical fiber sensor technique for strain measurement during materials deposition, chemical reaction, and relaxation

DOEpatents

Butler, M.A.; Ginley, D.S.

1988-01-21

Laser light from a common source is split and conveyed through two similar optical fibers and emitted at their respective ends to form an interference pattern, one of the optical fibers having a portion thereof subjected to a strain. Changes in the strain cause changes in the optical path length of the strain fiber, and generate corresponding changes in the interference pattern. The interference pattern is received and transduced into signals representative of fringe shifts corresponding to changes in the strain experienced by the strained one of the optical fibers. These signals are then processed to evaluate strain as a function of time, typical examples of the application of the apparatus including electrodeposition of a metallic film on a conductive surface provided on the outside of the optical fiber being strained, so that strains generated in the optical fiber during the course of the electrodeposition are measurable as a function of time. In one aspect of the invention, signals relating to the fringe shift are stored for subsequent processing and analysis, whereas in another aspect of the invention the signals are processed for real-time display of the strain changes under study. 9 figs.

High Efficiency Coupling of Optical Fibres with SU8 Micro-droplet Using Laser Welding Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yardi, Seema; Gupta, Ankur; Sundriyal, Poonam; Bhatt, Geeta; Kant, Rishi; Boolchandani, D.; Bhattacharya, Shantanu

2016-09-01

Apart from micro- structure fabrication, ablation, lithography etc., lasers find a lot of utility in various areas like precision joining, device fabrication, local heat delivery for surface texturing and local change of microstructure fabrication of standalone optical micro-devices (like microspheres, micro-prisms, micro-scale ring resonators, optical switches etc). There is a wide utility of such systems in chemical/ biochemical diagnostics and also communications where the standalone optical devices exist at a commercial scale but chip based devices with printed optics are necessary due to coupling issues between printed structures and external optics. This paper demonstrates a novel fabrication strategy used to join standalone optical fibres to microchip based printed optics using a simple SU8 drop. The fabrication process is deployed for fiber to fiber optical coupling and coupling between fiber and printed SU-8 waveguides. A CO2 laser is used to locally heat the coupling made up of SU8 material. Optimization of various dimensional parameters using design of experiments (DOE) on the bonded assembly has been performed as a function of laser power, speed, cycle control, spot size so on so forth. Exclusive optical [RF] modelling has been performed to estimate the transmissibility of the optical fibers bonded to each other on a surface with SU8. Our studies indicate the formation of a Whispering gallery mode (WGM) across the micro-droplet leading to high transmissibility of the signal. Through this work we have thus been able to develop a method of fabrication for optical coupling of standalone fibers or coupling of on-chip optics with off-chip illumination/detection.

Portable evanescent wave fiber biosensor for highly sensitive detection of Shigella

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Rui; Rong, Zhen; Long, Feng; Liu, Qiqi

2014-11-01

A portable evanescent wave fiber biosensor was developed to achieve the rapid and highly sensitive detection of Shigella. In this study, a DNA probe was covalently immobilized onto fiber-optic biosensors that can hybridize with a fluorescently labeled complementary DNA. The sensitivity of detection for synthesized oligonucleotides can reach 10-10 M. The surface of the sensor can be regenerated with 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate solution (pH 1.9) for over 30 times without significant deterioration of performance. The total analysis time for a single sample, including the time for measurement and surface regeneration, was less than 6 min. We employed real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and compared the results of both methods to investigate the actual Shigella DNA detection capability of the fiber-optic biosensor. The fiber-optic biosensor could detect as low as 102 colony-forming unit/mL Shigella. This finding was comparable with that by real-time PCR, which suggests that this method is a potential alternative to existing detection methods.

An In-situ Real-Time Optical Fiber Sensor Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance for Monitoring the Growth of TiO2 Thin Films

PubMed Central

Tsao, Yu-Chia; Tsai, Woo-Hu; Shih, Wen-Ching; Wu, Mu-Shiang

2013-01-01

An optical fiber sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is proposed for monitoring the thickness of deposited nano-thin films. A side-polished multimode SPR optical fiber sensor with an 850 nm-LD is used as the transducing element for real-time monitoring of the deposited TiO2 thin films. The SPR optical fiber sensor was installed in the TiO2 sputtering system in order to measure the thickness of the deposited sample during TiO2 deposition. The SPR response declined in real-time in relation to the growth of the thickness of the TiO2 thin film. Our results show the same trend of the SPR response in real-time and in spectra taken before and after deposition. The SPR transmitted intensity changes by approximately 18.76% corresponding to 50 nm of deposited TiO2 thin film. We have shown that optical fiber sensors utilizing SPR have the potential for real-time monitoring of the SPR technology of nanometer film thickness. The compact size of the SPR fiber sensor enables it to be positioned inside the deposition chamber, and it could thus measure the film thickness directly in real-time. This technology also has potential application for monitoring the deposition of other materials. Moreover, in-situ real-time SPR optical fiber sensor technology is in inexpensive, disposable technique that has anti-interference properties, and the potential to enable on-line monitoring and monitoring of organic coatings. PMID:23881144

An in-situ real-time optical fiber sensor based on surface plasmon resonance for monitoring the growth of TiO2 thin films.

PubMed

Tsao, Yu-Chia; Tsai, Woo-Hu; Shih, Wen-Ching; Wu, Mu-Shiang

2013-07-23

An optical fiber sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is proposed for monitoring the thickness of deposited nano-thin films. A side-polished multimode SPR optical fiber sensor with an 850 nm-LD is used as the transducing element for real-time monitoring of the deposited TiO2 thin films. The SPR optical fiber sensor was installed in the TiO2 sputtering system in order to measure the thickness of the deposited sample during TiO2 deposition. The SPR response declined in real-time in relation to the growth of the thickness of the TiO2 thin film. Our results show the same trend of the SPR response in real-time and in spectra taken before and after deposition. The SPR transmitted intensity changes by approximately 18.76% corresponding to 50 nm of deposited TiO2 thin film. We have shown that optical fiber sensors utilizing SPR have the potential for real-time monitoring of the SPR technology of nanometer film thickness. The compact size of the SPR fiber sensor enables it to be positioned inside the deposition chamber, and it could thus measure the film thickness directly in real-time. This technology also has potential application for monitoring the deposition of other materials. Moreover, in-situ real-time SPR optical fiber sensor technology is in inexpensive, disposable technique that has anti-interference properties, and the potential to enable on-line monitoring and monitoring of organic coatings.

Polarization dependence of laser interaction with carbon fibers and CFRP.

PubMed

Freitag, Christian; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas

2014-01-27

A key factor for laser materials processing is the absorptivity of the material at the laser wavelength, which determines the fraction of the laser energy that is coupled into the material. Based on the Fresnel equations, a theoretical model is used to determine the absorptivity for carbon fiber fabrics and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). The surface of each carbon fiber is considered as multiple layers of concentric cylinders of graphite. With this the optical properties of carbon fibers and their composites can be estimated from the well-known optical properties of graphite.

Active vibration control using a modal-domain fiber optic sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cox, David E.

1992-01-01

A closed-loop control experiment is described in which vibrations of a cantilevered beam are suppressed using measurements from a modal-domain fiber optic sensor. Modal-domain sensors are interference between the modes of a few-mode optical waveguide to detect strain. The fiber is bonded along the length of the beam and provides a measurement related to the strain distribution on the surface of the beam. A model for the fiber optic sensor is derived, and this model is integrated with the dynamic model of the beam. A piezoelectric actuator is also bonded to the beam and used to provide control forces. Control forces are obtained through dynamic compensation of the signal from the fiber optic sensor. The compensator is implemented with a real-time digital controller. Analytical models are verified by comparing simulations to experimental results for both open-loop and closed-loop configurations.

Performance analysis of fiber-based free-space optical communications with coherent detection spatial diversity.

PubMed

Li, Kangning; Ma, Jing; Tan, Liying; Yu, Siyuan; Zhai, Chao

2016-06-10

The performances of fiber-based free-space optical (FSO) communications over gamma-gamma distributed turbulence are studied for multiple aperture receiver systems. The equal gain combining (EGC) technique is considered as a practical scheme to mitigate the atmospheric turbulence. Bit error rate (BER) performances for binary-phase-shift-keying-modulated coherent detection fiber-based free-space optical communications are derived and analyzed for EGC diversity receptions through an approximation method. To show the net diversity gain of a multiple aperture receiver system, BER performances of EGC are compared with a single monolithic aperture receiver system with the same total aperture area (same average total incident optical power on the aperture surface) for fiber-based free-space optical communications. The analytical results are verified by Monte Carlo simulations. System performances are also compared for EGC diversity coherent FSO communications with or without considering fiber-coupling efficiencies.

Distributed fluorescent optical fiber proximity sensor: Towards a proof of concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gălătuș, Ramona; Faragó, Paul; Miluski, Piotr; Valles, Juan-Antonio

2018-06-01

Fluorescent fibers are optical fibers which emit light as a response to an incident phenomenon, usually an incident light. Operation depends on the doping dyes, which determine specific fluorescence and optical characteristics useful in the development of optical sensors. In this work we propose a low-cost distributed proximity sensor implemented using a red fluorescent fiber, to provide a security option for a surface plasmon resonance system. Operation of the proposed sensor relies on having the incident illumination intensity varied by the presence or absence of an obstacle in the vicinity of the sensing element. This will influence the radiated fluorescence accordingly. The proposed setup for the implementation of the optical proximity sensor assumes having a high brightness LED deployed for axial fiber illumination and a blue LED for side illumination. Electronic processing then accounts for gain and digitization. Measurement results of the prototype validate the proposed concept.

Critical Coupling Between Optical Fibers and WGM Resonators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matsko, Andrey; Maleki, Lute; Itchenko, Vladimir; Savchenkov, Anatoliy

2009-01-01

Two recipes for ensuring critical coupling between a single-mode optical fiber and a whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) optical resonator have been devised. The recipes provide for phase matching and aperture matching, both of which are necessary for efficient coupling. There is also a provision for suppressing intermodal coupling, which is detrimental because it drains energy from desired modes into undesired ones. According to one recipe, the tip of the single-mode optical fiber is either tapered in diameter or tapered in effective diameter by virtue of being cleaved at an oblique angle. The effective index of refraction and the phase velocity at a given position along the taper depend on the diameter (or effective diameter) and the index of refraction of the bulk fiber material. As the diameter (or effective diameter) decreases with decreasing distance from the tip, the effective index of refraction also decreases. Critical coupling and phase matching can be achieved by placing the optical fiber and the resonator in contact at the proper point along the taper. This recipe is subject to the limitation that the attainable effective index of refraction lies between the indices of refraction of the bulk fiber material and the atmosphere or vacuum to which the resonator and fiber are exposed. The other recipe involves a refinement of the previously developed technique of prism coupling, in which the light beam from the optical fiber is collimated and focused onto one surface of a prism that has an index of refraction greater than that of the resonator. Another surface of the prism is placed in contact with the resonator. The various components are arranged so that the collimated beam is focused at the prism/resonator contact spot. The recipe includes the following additional provisions:

Quantification of holmium:YAG optical tip degradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mues, Adam C.; Teichman, Joel M. H.; Knudsen, Bodo E.

2009-02-01

The holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser is the gold standard laser for intracorporeal lithotripsy. Optical fibers are utilized to transmit laser energy to the surface of a stone for fragmentation. During lithotripsy, fiber tip degradation (burn back) can occur. The exact mechanism for tip degradation and related factors are not completely understood, and have not been investigated. This characteristic is important because fiber burn back may affect diminish fragmentation efficiency, increase operative time, and increase cost due to the need for fiber replacement. We hypothesize that fiber tip degradation (burn back) varies amongst different commercially available holmium:YAG laser fibers.

Fabrication of an Optical Fiber Micro-Sphere with a Diameter of Several Tens of Micrometers.

PubMed

Yu, Huijuan; Huang, Qiangxian; Zhao, Jian

2014-06-25

A new method to fabricate an integrated optical fiber micro-sphere with a diameter within 100 µm, based on the optical fiber tapering technique and the Taguchi method is proposed. Using a 125 µm diameter single-mode (SM) optical fiber, an optical fiber taper with a cone angle is formed with the tapering technique, and the fabrication optimization of a micro-sphere with a diameter of less than 100 µm is achieved using the Taguchi method. The optimum combination of process factors levels is obtained, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of three quality evaluation parameters and the significance of each process factors influencing them are selected as the two standards. Using the minimum zone method (MZM) to evaluate the quality of the fabricated optical fiber micro-sphere, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical fitting image of its surface profile and the true sphericity are subsequently realized. From the results, an optical fiber micro-sphere with a two-dimensional (2D) diameter less than 80 µm, 2D roundness error less than 0.70 µm, 2D offset distance between the micro-sphere center and the fiber stylus central line less than 0.65 µm, and true sphericity of about 0.5 µm, is fabricated.

Fiber Optic Thermal Detection of Composite Delaminations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Meng-Chou; Winfree, William P.

2011-01-01

A recently developed technique is presented for thermographic detection of delaminations in composites by performing temperature measurements with fiber optic Bragg gratings. A single optical fiber with multiple Bragg gratings employed as surface temperature sensors was bonded to the surface of a composite with subsurface defects. The investigated structure was a 10-ply composite specimen with prefabricated delaminations of various sizes and depths. Both during and following the application of a thermal heat flux to the surface, the individual Bragg grating sensors measured the temporal and spatial temperature variations. The data obtained from grating sensors were analyzed with thermal modeling techniques of conventional thermography to reveal particular characteristics of the interested areas. Results were compared and found to be consistent with the calculations using numerical simulation techniques. Also discussed are methods including various heating sources and patterns, and their limitations for performing in-situ structural health monitoring.

Compact light-emitting diode optical fiber immobilized TiO2 reactor for photocatalytic water treatment.

PubMed

O'Neal Tugaoen, Heather; Garcia-Segura, Sergi; Hristovski, Kiril; Westerhoff, Paul

2018-02-01

A key barrier to implementing photocatalysis is delivering light to photocatalysts that are in contact with aqueous pollutants. Slurry photocatalyst systems suffer from poor light penetration and require post-treatment to separate the catalyst. The alternative is to deposit photocatalysts on fixed films and deliver light onto the surface or the backside of the attached catalysts. In this study, TiO 2 -coated quartz optical fibers were coupled to light emitting diodes (OF/LED) to improve in situ light delivery. Design factors and mechanisms studied for OF/LEDs in a flow-through reactor included: (i) the influence of number of LED sources coupled to fibers and (ii) the use of multiple optical fibers bundled to a single LED. The light delivery mechanism from the optical fibers into the TiO 2 coatings is thoroughly discussed. To demonstrate influence of design variables, experiments were conducted in the reactor using the chlorinated pollutant para-chlorobenzoic acid (pCBA). From the degradation kinetics of pCBA, the quantum efficiencies (Φ) of oxidation and electrical energies per order (E EO ) were determined. The use of TiO 2 coated optical fiber bundles reduced the energy requirements to deliver photons and increased available surface area, which improved Φ and enhanced oxidative pollutant removal performance (E EO ). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optical Fiber On-Line Detection System for Non-Touch Monitoring Roller Shape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Y.; Wang, Y. T.

2006-10-01

Basing on the principle of reflective displacement fiber-optic sensor, a high accuracy non-touch on-line optical fiber measurement system for roller shape is presented. The principle and composition of the detection system and the operation process are expatiated also. By using a novel probe of three optical fibers in equal transverse space, the effects of fluctuations in the light source, reflective changing of target surface and the intensity losses in the fiber lines are automatically compensated. Meantime, an optical fiber sensor model of correcting static error based on BP artificial neural network (ANN) is set up. Also by using interpolation method and value filtering to process the signals, effectively reduce the influence of random noise and the vibration of the roller bearing. So enhance the accuracy and resolution remarkably. Experiment proves that the accuracy of the system reach to the demand of practical production process, it provides a new method for the high speed, accurate and automatic on line detection of the mill roller shape.

Impact of optical and structural aging in As₂S₃ microstructured optical fibers on mid-infrared supercontinuum generation.

PubMed

Mouawad, O; Amrani, F; Kibler, B; Picot-Clémente, J; Strutynski, C; Fatome, J; Désévédavy, F; Gadret, G; Jules, J-C; Heintz, O; Lesniewska, E; Smektala, F

2014-10-06

We analyze optical and structural aging in As₂S₃ microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) that may have an impact on mid-infrared supercontinuum generation. A strong alteration of optical transparency at the fundamental OH absorption peak is measured for high-purity As₂S₃ MOF stored in atmospheric conditions. The surface evolution and inherent deviation of corresponding chemical composition confirm that the optical and chemical properties of MOFs degrade upon exposure to ambient conditions because of counteractive surface process. This phenomenon substantially reduces the optical quality of the MOFs and therefore restrains the spectral expansion of generated supercontinuum. This aging process is well confirmed by the good matching between previous experimental results and the reported numerical simulations based on the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation.

An All-Fiber-Optic Combined System of Noncontact Photoacoustic Tomography and Optical Coherence Tomography

PubMed Central

Eom, Jonghyun; Shin, Jun Geun; Park, Soongho; Rim, Sunghwan; Lee, Byeong Ha

2016-01-01

We propose an all-fiber-based dual-modal imaging system that combines noncontact photoacoustic tomography (PAT) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The PAT remotely measures photoacoustic (PA) signals with a 1550-nm laser on the surface of a sample by utilizing a fiber interferometer as an ultrasound detector. The fiber-based OCT, employing a swept-source laser centered at 1310 nm, shares the sample arm of the PAT system. The fiber-optic probe for the combined system was homemade with a lensed single-mode fiber (SMF) and a large-core multimode fiber (MMF). The compact and robust common probe is capable of obtaining both the PA and the OCT signals at the same position without any physical contact. Additionally, the MMF of the probe delivers the short pulses of a Nd:YAG laser to efficiently excite the PA signals. We experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed dual-modal system with a phantom made of a fishing line and a black polyethylene terephthalate fiber in a tissue mimicking solution. The all-fiber-optic system, capable of providing complementary information about absorption and scattering, has a promising potential in minimally invasive and endoscopic imaging. PMID:27213392

An All-Fiber-Optic Combined System of Noncontact Photoacoustic Tomography and Optical Coherence Tomography.

PubMed

Eom, Jonghyun; Shin, Jun Geun; Park, Soongho; Rim, Sunghwan; Lee, Byeong Ha

2016-05-20

We propose an all-fiber-based dual-modal imaging system that combines noncontact photoacoustic tomography (PAT) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The PAT remotely measures photoacoustic (PA) signals with a 1550-nm laser on the surface of a sample by utilizing a fiber interferometer as an ultrasound detector. The fiber-based OCT, employing a swept-source laser centered at 1310 nm, shares the sample arm of the PAT system. The fiber-optic probe for the combined system was homemade with a lensed single-mode fiber (SMF) and a large-core multimode fiber (MMF). The compact and robust common probe is capable of obtaining both the PA and the OCT signals at the same position without any physical contact. Additionally, the MMF of the probe delivers the short pulses of a Nd:YAG laser to efficiently excite the PA signals. We experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed dual-modal system with a phantom made of a fishing line and a black polyethylene terephthalate fiber in a tissue mimicking solution. The all-fiber-optic system, capable of providing complementary information about absorption and scattering, has a promising potential in minimally invasive and endoscopic imaging.

Coupling Light Emitting Diodes with Photocatalyst-Coated Optical Fibers Improves Quantum Yield of Pollutant Oxidation.

PubMed

Ling, Li; Tugaoen, Heather; Brame, Jonathon; Sinha, Shahnawaz; Li, Chuanhao; Schoepf, Jared; Hristovski, Kiril; Kim, Jae-Hong; Shang, Chii; Westerhoff, Paul

2017-11-21

A photocatalyst-coated optical fiber was coupled with a 318 nm ultraviolet-A light emitting diode, which activated the photocatalysts by interfacial photon-electron excitation while minimizing photonic energy losses due to conventional photocatalytic barriers. The light delivery mechanism was explored via modeling of evanescent wave energy produced upon total internal reflection and photon refraction into the TiO 2 surface coating. This work explores aqueous phase LED-irradiated optical fibers for treating organic pollutants and for the first time proposes a dual-mechanistic approach to light delivery and photocatalytic performance. Degradation of a probe organic pollutant was evaluated as a function of optical fiber coating thickness, fiber length, and photocatalyst attachment method and compared against the performance of an equivalent catalyst mass in a completely mixed slurry reactor. Measured and simulated photon fluence through the optical fibers decreased as a function of fiber length, coating thickness, or TiO 2 mass externally coated on the fiber. Thinner TiO 2 coatings achieved faster pollutant removal rates from solution, and dip coating performed better than sol-gel attachment methods. TiO 2 attached to optical fibers achieved a 5-fold higher quantum yield compared against an equivalent mass of TiO 2 suspended in a slurry solution.

Indium oxide based fiber optic SPR sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shukla, Sarika; Sharma, Navneet K., E-mail: navneetk.sharma@jiit.ac.in

2016-05-06

Surface plasmon resonance based fiber optic sensor using indium oxide layer is presented and theoretically studied. It has been found that with increase in thickness of indium oxide layer beyond 170 nm, the sensitivity of SPR sensor decreases. 170 nm thick indium oxide layer based SPR sensor holds maximum sensitivity.

Micro optical fiber light source and sensor and method of fabrication thereof

DOEpatents

Kopelman, Raoul; Tan, Weihong; Shi, Zhong-You

1997-01-01

This invention relates generally to the development of and a method of fabricating a fiber optic micro-light source and sensor (50). An optical fiber micro-light source (50) is presented whose aperture is extremely small yet able to act as an intense light source. Light sources of this type have wide ranging applications, including use as micro-sensors (22) in NSOM. Micro-sensor light sources have excellent detection limits as well as photo stability, reversibility, and millisecond response times. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a micro optical fiber light source is provided. It involves the photo-chemical attachment of an optically active material onto the end surface of an optical fiber cable which has been pulled to form an end with an extremely narrow aperture. More specifically, photopolymerization has been applied as a means to photo-chemically attach an optically active material (60). This process allows significant control of the size of the micro light source (50). Furthermore, photo-chemically attaching an optically active material (60) enables the implementation of the micro-light source in a variety of sensor applications.

Micro optical fiber light source and sensor and method of fabrication thereof

DOEpatents

Kopelman, Raoul; Tan, Weihong; Shi, Zhong-You

1994-01-01

This invention relates generally to the development of and a method of fabricating a micro optical fiber light source. An optical fiber micro-light source is presented whose aperture is extremely small yet able to act as an intense light source. Light sources of this type have wide ranging applications, including use as micro-sensors in NSOM. Micro-sensor light sources have excellent detection limits as well as photo stability, reversibility, and millisecond response times. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a micro optical fiber light source is provided. It involves the photo-chemical attachment of an optically active material onto the end surface of an optical fiber cable which has been pulled to form an end with an extremely narrow aperture. More specifically, photopolymerization has been applied as a means to photo-chemically attach an optically active material. This process allows significant control of the size of the micro light source. Furthermore, photo-chemically attaching an optically active material enables the implementation of the micro-light source in a variety of sensor applications.

Micro optical fiber light source and sensor and method of fabrication thereof

DOEpatents

Kopelman, R.; Tan, W.; Shi, Z.Y.

1997-05-06

This invention relates generally to the development of and a method of fabricating a fiber optic micro-light source and sensor. An optical fiber micro-light source is presented whose aperture is extremely small yet able to act as an intense light source. Light sources of this type have wide ranging applications, including use as micro-sensors in NSOM. Micro-sensor light sources have excellent detection limits as well as photo stability, reversibility, and millisecond response times. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a micro optical fiber light source is provided. It involves the photo-chemical attachment of an optically active material onto the end surface of an optical fiber cable which has been pulled to form an end with an extremely narrow aperture. More specifically, photopolymerization has been applied as a means to photo-chemically attach an optically active material. This process allows significant control of the size of the micro light source. Furthermore, photo-chemically attaching an optically active material enables the implementation of the micro-light source in a variety of sensor applications. 10 figs.

Micro optical fiber light source and sensor and method of fabrication thereof

DOEpatents

Kopelman, R.; Tan, W.; Shi, Z.Y.

1994-11-01

This invention relates generally to the development of and a method of fabricating a micro optical fiber light source. An optical fiber micro-light source is presented whose aperture is extremely small yet able to act as an intense light source. Light sources of this type have wide ranging applications, including use as micro-sensors in NSOM. Micro-sensor light sources have excellent detection limits as well as photo stability, reversibility, and millisecond response times. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a micro optical fiber light source is provided. It involves the photo-chemical attachment of an optically active material onto the end surface of an optical fiber cable which has been pulled to form an end with an extremely narrow aperture. More specifically, photopolymerization has been applied as a means to photo-chemically attach an optically active material. This process allows significant control of the size of the micro light source. Furthermore, photo-chemically attaching an optically active material enables the implementation of the micro-light source in a variety of sensor applications. 4 figs.

Refractive-index-sensing fiber comb using intracavity multi-mode interference fiber sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oe, Ryo; Minamikawa, Takeo; Taue, Shuji; Fukano, Hideki; Nakajima, Yoshiaki; Minoshima, Kaoru; Yasui, Takeshi

2018-02-01

Refractive index measurement is important for evaluation of liquid materials, optical components, and bio sensing. One promising approach for such measurement is use of optical fiber sensors such as surface plasmonic resonance or multi-mode interference (MMI), which measure the change of optical spectrum resulting from the refractive index change. However, the precision of refractive index measurement is limited by the performance of optical spectrum analyzer. If such the refractive index measurement can be performed in radio frequency (RF) region in place of optical region, the measurement precision will be further improved by the frequency-standard-based RF measurement. To this end, we focus on the disturbance-to-RF conversion in a fiber optical frequency comb (OFC) cavity. Since frequency spacing frep of OFC depends on an optical cavity length nL, frep sensitively reflects the external disturbance interacted with nL. Although we previously demonstrated the precise strain measurement based on the frep measurement, the measurable physical quantity is limited to strain or temperature, which directly interacts with the fiber cavity itself. If a functional fiber sensor can be installed into the fiber OFC cavity, the measurable physical quantity will be largely expanded. In this paper, we introduce a MMI fiber sensor into a ring-type fiber OFC cavity for refractive index measurement. We confirmed the refractive-index-dependent frep shift.

Lightning vulnerability of fiber-optic cables.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martinez, Leonard E.; Caldwell, Michele

2008-06-01

One reason to use optical fibers to transmit data is for isolation from unintended electrical energy. Using fiber optics in an application where the fiber cable/system penetrates the aperture of a grounded enclosure serves two purposes: first, it allows for control signals to be transmitted where they are required, and second, the insulating properties of the fiber system help to electrically isolate the fiber terminations on the inside of the grounded enclosure. A fundamental question is whether fiber optic cables can allow electrical energy to pass through a grounded enclosure, with a lightning strike representing an extreme but very importantmore » case. A DC test bed capable of producing voltages up to 200 kV was used to characterize electrical properties of a variety of fiber optic cable samples. Leakage current in the samples were measured with a micro-Ammeter. In addition to the leakage current measurements, samples were also tested to DC voltage breakdown. After the fiber optic cables samples were tested with DC methods, they were tested under representative lightning conditions at the Sandia Lightning Simulator (SLS). Simulated lightning currents of 30 kA and 200 kA were selected for this test series. This paper documents measurement methods and test results for DC high voltage and simulated lightning tests performed at the Sandia Lightning Simulator on fiber optic cables. The tests performed at the SLS evaluated whether electrical energy can be conducted inside or along the surface of a fiber optic cable into a grounded enclosure under representative lightning conditions.« less

Nd:YAG-laser-based time-domain reflectometry measurements of the intrinsic reflection signature from PMMA fiber splices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawson, Christopher M.; Michael, Robert R., Jr.; Dressel, Earl M.; Harmony, David W.

1991-12-01

Optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) measurements have been performed on polished polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plastic fiber splices. After the dominant splice reflection sources due to surface roughness, inexact index matching, and fiber core misalignment were eliminated, an intrinsic OTDR signature 3 - 8 dB above the Rayleigh backscatter floor remained with all tested fibers. This minimum splice reflectivity exhibits characteristics that are consistent with sub-surface polymer damage and can be used for detection of PMMA fiber splices.

Fiber optic device for sensing the presence of a gas

DOEpatents

Benson, D.K.; Bechinger, C.S.; Tracy, C.E.

1998-01-13

A fiber-optic device for sensing the presence of a gas in an environment is provided. The device comprises a light source for directing a light beam to a layer system having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface is exposable to the light beam and the second surface is exposable to the environment. A first light portion encounters and reflects from the first surface at an angle of incidence free from optical wave guide resonance phenomenon and the second light portion encounters and reflects from the first surface at an angle of incidence enabling an optical wave guide resonance phenomenon. The layer system is selected to reversibly react with the gas to be detected. The reaction between the gas and the material changes the material`s optical properties and the wavelength at which the optical wave guide resonance occurs. Furthermore, a mechanism for measuring the intensity of the reflected first light portion relative to the reflected second light portion is provided with the ratio of the first and second light portions indicating the concentration of the gas presence in the environment. 5 figs.

Hollow fiber-optic Raman probes for small experimental animals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katagiri, Takashi; Hattori, Yusuke; Suzuki, Toshiaki; Matsuura, Yuji; Sato, Hidetoshi

2007-02-01

Two types of hollow fiber-optic probes are developed to measure the in vivo Raman spectra of small animals. One is the minimized probe which is end-sealed with the micro-ball lens. The measured spectra reflect the information of the sample's sub-surface. This probe is used for the measurement of the esophagus and the stomach via an endoscope. The other probe is a confocal Raman probe which consists of a single fiber and a lens system. It is integrated into the handheld microscope. A simple and small multimodal probe is realized because the hollow optical fiber requires no optical filters. The performance of each probe is examined and the effectiveness of these probes for in vivo Raman spectroscopy is shown by animal tests.

Optical fiber designs for beam shaping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farley, Kevin; Conroy, Michael; Wang, Chih-Hao; Abramczyk, Jaroslaw; Campbell, Stuart; Oulundsen, George; Tankala, Kanishka

2014-03-01

A large number of power delivery applications for optical fibers require beams with very specific output intensity profiles; in particular applications that require a focused high intensity beam typically image the near field (NF) intensity distribution at the exit surface of an optical fiber. In this work we discuss optical fiber designs that shape the output beam profile to more closely correspond to what is required in many real world industrial applications. Specifically we present results demonstrating the ability to transform Gaussian beams to shapes required for industrial applications and how that relates to system parameters such as beam product parameter (BPP) values. We report on the how different waveguide structures perform in the NF and show results on how to achieve flat-top with circular outputs.

Side-hole fiber sensor based on surface plasmon resonance.

PubMed

Wang, Anna; Docherty, Andrew; Kuhlmey, Boris T; Cox, Felicity M; Large, Maryanne C J

2009-12-15

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is demonstrated in a microstructured optical fiber sensor for the first time (to our knowledge). SPR features were observed at 560 and 620 nm when sample fluids of refractive indices n=1.38 and n=1.41, respectively, were applied to the sensor. This study also identifies a new approach to improve the resolution of fiber SPR sensors.

Boronic Acid Functionalized Au Nanoparticles for Selective MicroRNA Signal Amplification in Fiber-Optic Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing System.

PubMed

Qian, Siyu; Lin, Ming; Ji, Wei; Yuan, Huizhen; Zhang, Yang; Jing, Zhenguo; Zhao, Jianzhang; Masson, Jean-François; Peng, Wei

2018-05-25

MicroRNA (miRNA) regulates gene expression and plays a fundamental role in multiple biological processes. However, if both single-stranded RNA and DNA can bind with capture DNA on the sensing surface, selectively amplifying the complementary RNA signal is still challenging for researchers. Fiber-optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors are small, accurate, and convenient tools for monitoring biological interaction. In this paper, we present a high sensitivity microRNA detection technique using phenylboronic acid functionalized Au nanoparticles (PBA-AuNPs) in fiber-optic SPR sensing systems. Due to the inherent difficulty directly detecting the hybridized RNA on the sensing surface, the PBA-AuNPs were used to selectively amplify the signal of target miRNA. The result shows that the method has high selectivity and sensitivity for miRNA, with a detection limit at 2.7 × 10 -13 M (0.27 pM). This PBA-AuNPs amplification strategy is universally applicable for RNA detection with various sensing technologies, such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and electrochemistry, among others.

Jones matrix analysis for a polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography system using fiber-optic components.

PubMed

Park, B Hyle; Pierce, Mark C; Cense, Barry; de Boer, Johannes F

2004-11-01

We present an analysis for polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography that facilitates the unrestricted use of fiber and fiber-optic components throughout an interferometer and yields sample birefringence, diattenuation, and relative optic axis orientation. We use a novel Jones matrix approach that compares the polarization states of light reflected from the sample surface with those reflected from within a biological sample for pairs of depth scans. The incident polarization alternated between two states that are perpendicular in a Poincaré sphere representation to ensure proper detection of tissue birefringence regardless of optical fiber contributions. The method was validated by comparing the calculated diattenuation of a polarizing sheet, chicken tendon, and muscle with that obtained by independent measurement. The relative importance of diattenuation versus birefringence to angular displacement of Stokes vectors on a Poincaré sphere was quantified.

Preparation Of Small Diameter Sensors For Continuous Clinical Monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walt, David R.; Munkholm, Christiane; Jordan, David; Milanovich, Fred P.; Daley, Paul F.

1987-04-01

We have prepared fluorescence-based fiber optic sensors which give rapid and reversible responses. Other investigators have previously prepared sensors in which a membrane, tubing, or a hollow fiber is used to contain a specific reagent near the distal end of the fiber. Such an approach produces fibers with limited signal magnitudes and slow response times. Furthermore, these sensors are cumbersome to assemble, and are difficult to miniaturize and calibrate. We have developed a technique for the covalent chemical modification of the fiber's distal surface which is easily adapted to the smallest diameter glass optical fiber (100 μm). The sensing layer is attached directly to the fiber surface. The layer is extremely thin and highly porous and provides high fluorescence intensity with nearly instantaneous response times. The fibers are moderately stable against bleaching and have long shelf-lives. Our initial efforts have concentrated on the preparation of pH-sensitive optical sensors that are useful in the pH range 4.0 to 8.0. These sensors are reversible in response to pH variation and possess signal-to-noise ratios over 250/1. The fibers are prepared using a glass surface modification followed by a polymerization step for dye immobilization. Both fluorescence and absorbance-based sensors have been prepared using this technique. The absorbance-based pH sensors have 100% response times of less than 3 seconds, are sensitive in the region of pH 6.0 to 8.0, and provide reliable measurement of pH with precision of better than 0.03 pH units.

Optical fiber sensors for damage analysis in aerospace materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schindler, Paul; May, Russell; Claus, Richard

1995-01-01

Under this grant, fiber optic sensors were investigated for use in the nondestructive evaluation of aging aircraft. Specifically, optical fiber sensors for detection and location of impacts on a surface, and for detection of corrosion in metals were developed. The use of neural networks was investigated for determining impact location by processing the output of a network of fiberoptic strain sensors distributed on a surface. This approach employs triangulation to determine location by comparing the arrival times at several sensors, of the acoustic signal generated by the impact. For this study, a neural network simulator running on a personal computer was used to train a network using a back-propagation algorithm. Fiber optic extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) strain sensors are attached to or embedded in the surface, so that stress waves emanating from an impact can be detected. The ability of the network to determine impact location by time-or-arrival of acoustic signals was assessed by comparing network outputs with actual experimental results using impacts on a panel instrumented with optical fiber sensors. Using the neural network to process the sensor outputs, the impact location can be inferred to centimeter range accuracy directly from the arrival time data. In addition, the network can be trained to determine impact location, regardless of material anisotropy. Results demonstrate that a back-propagation network identifies impact location for an anisotropic graphite/bismaleimide plate with the same accuracy as that for an isotropic aluminum plate. Two different approaches were investigated for the development of fiber optic sensors for corrosion detection in metals, both utilizing optical fiber sensors with metal coatings. In the first approach, an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric fiber optic strain sensor was placed under tensile stress, and while in the resulting strained position, a thick coating of metal was applied. Due to an increase in the quantity of material, the sensor does not return to its original position upon removal of the applied stress, and some residual strain is maintained within the sensor element. As the metal thickness decreases due to corrosion, this strain is released, providing the sensing mechanism for corrosion detection. In the second approach, photosensitive optical fibers with long period Bragg gratings in the core were coated with metal. The Bragg gratings serve to couple core modes at discrete wavelengths to cladding modes. Since cladding modes interact with the metal coating surrounding the fiber cladding, the specific wavelengths coupled from core to cladding depend on the refractive index of the metal coating. Therefore, as the metal corrodes, the resulting change in index of the coating may be measured by measuring the change in wavelength of the coupled mode. Results demonstrate that both approaches can be successfully used to track the loss in metal coating on the optical fiber sensors due to corrosion.

Investigation of Structural Properties of Carbon-Epoxy Composites Using Fiber-Bragg Gratings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant, J.; Kaul, R.; Taylor, S.; Jackson, K.; Sharma, A.; Burdine, Robert V. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Fiber Bragg-gratings are embedded in carbon-epoxy laminates as well as bonded on the surface of cylindrical structures fabricated out of such composites. Structural properties of such composites is investigated. The measurements include stress-strain relation in laminates and Poisson's ratio in several specimens with varying orientation of the optical fiber Bragg-sensor with respect to the carbon fiber in an epoxy matrix. Additionally, Bragg gratings are bonded on the surface of cylinders fabricated out of carbon-epoxy composites and longitudinal and hoop strain on the surface is measured.

Multiwavelength laser light transmission of hollow optical fiber from the visible to the mid-infrared.

PubMed

Shi, Yi Wei; Ito, Kentaro; Matsuura, Yuji; Miyagi, Mitsunobu

2005-11-01

We report on low-loss multiwavelength laser delivery of hollow optical fiber in a wide wavelength region, from the visible to the infrared. Improved methods of liquid-phase coating were used to fabricate the hollow fiber with inner films of a silver and a cyclic olefin polymer (COP) layer. The surface roughness of the silver layer was reduced dramatically by pretreatment on the inner glass surface with an SnCl2 solution. The COP layer roughness was also decreased by using an ambient atmosphere of tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent during the COP layer formation. Owing to the smooth surfaces, hollow fiber with optimum COP film thickness for CO2 laser light simultaneously yields low losses for a Er:YAG laser and a red pilot beam. The power durability of CO2 and Er:YAG lasers, as well as the loss properties for the pilot beam, is demonstrated.

On a Road to "Soft" Optical MEMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shu; Mach, Peter; Krupenkin, Tom

2003-03-01

A phenomenon of electrowetting has been applied to the actuation of micro-optical devices. The devices use small droplets of transparent conductive liquids to manipulate light in a useful way. The form and position of these droplets is controlled by the applied voltage. Both fiber based and open space optical devices are demonstrated. As an example of an open space optical device, a tunable liquid microlens capable of adjusting its focal length and lateral position is discussed. The microlens consists of a droplet of a transparent conductive liquid placed on a dielectric substrate with underlying electrodes. By varying the voltage applied to the structure, both the position and curvature of microlens can be reversibly changed. Similarly, electrowetting actuation of fluids in micro channels is employed to provide dynamic and reversible tuning of the optical fiber structures. When combined with in-fiber gratings or etched fibers this approach yields tunable broadband and narrowband filters with a large dynamic range. Both the surface and bulk properties of the materials are found important to control the device performance. Fundamental problems, such as stick-slip behavior and contact angle hysteresis associated with the surface roughness and surface contamination, are studied to optimize the choice of dielectric materials and their coatings. Some of the possible ways to control these phenomena are outlined. Several potential applications of the proposed approach are also discussed.

Design of the fiber optic support system and fiber bundle accelerated life test for VIRUS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soukup, Ian M.; Beno, Joseph H.; Hayes, Richard J.; Heisler, James T.; Mock, Jason R.; Mollison, Nicholas T.; Good, John M.; Hill, Gary J.; Vattiat, Brian L.; Murphy, Jeremy D.; Anderson, Seth C.; Bauer, Svend M.; Kelz, Andreas; Roth, Martin M.; Fahrenthold, Eric P.

2010-07-01

The quantity and length of optical fibers required for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope* Dark Energy eXperiment (HETDEX) create unique fiber handling challenges. For HETDEX‡, at least 33,600 fibers will transmit light from the focal surface of the telescope to an array of spectrographs making up the Visible Integral-Field Replicable Unit Spectrograph (VIRUS). Up to 96 Integral Field Unit (IFU) bundles, each containing 448 fibers, hang suspended from the telescope's moving tracker located more than 15 meters above the VIRUS instruments. A specialized mechanical system is being developed to support fiber optic assemblies onboard the telescope. The discrete behavior of 448 fibers within a conduit is also of primary concern. A life cycle test must be conducted to study fiber behavior and measure Focal Ratio Degradation (FRD) as a function of time. This paper focuses on the technical requirements and design of the HETDEX fiber optic support system, the electro-mechanical test apparatus for accelerated life testing of optical fiber assemblies. Results generated from the test will be of great interest to designers of robotic fiber handling systems for major telescopes. There is concern that friction, localized contact, entanglement, and excessive tension will be present within each IFU conduit and contribute to FRD. The test apparatus design utilizes six linear actuators to replicate the movement of the telescope over 65,000 accelerated cycles, simulating five years of actual operation.

Performance assessment of geotechnical structural elements using distributed fiber optic sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monsberger, Christoph; Woschitz, Helmut; Lienhart, Werner; Račanský, Václav; Hayden, Martin

2017-04-01

Geotechnical structural elements are used to underpin heavy structures or to stabilize slopes and embankments. The bearing capacity of these components is usually verified by geotechnical load tests. It is state of the art to measure the resulting deformations with electronic sensors at the surface and therefore, the load distribution along the objects cannot be determined. This paper reports about distributed strain measurements with an optical backscatter reflectometer along geotechnical elements. In addition to the installation of the optical fiber in harsh field conditions, results of investigations of the fiber optic system in the laboratory and the most significant results of the field trials are presented.

Fiber Optic Magnetic Field Sensors Using Metallic Glass Coatings.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yu.

1990-01-01

In this thesis we have investigated the use of a magnetostrictive material with a single-mode optical fiber for detecting weak magnetic fields. The amorphous alloy Metglas^circler 2605SC (Fe_{81}B_ {13.5}Si_{3.5} C_2) was chosen as the magnetostrictive material because of the combination of its large magnetostriction and small magnetic anisotropy field among all available metals. For efficient coupling between the magnetostrictive material and the optical fiber, the magnetostrictive material was directly deposited onto the single-mode optical fiber. The coated fibers were used as the sensing element in the fiber optic magnetic field sensor (FOMS). Very high quality thick metallic glass films of the Metglas 2605 SC have been deposited using triode-magneton sputtering. This is the first time such material has been successfully deposited onto an optical fiber or onto any other substrate. The films were also deposited onto glass slides to allow the study of the magnetic properties of the film. The thicknesses of these films were 5-15 mum. The magnetic property of primary interest for our sensor application is the induced longitudinal magnetostrictive strain. However, the other magnetic properties such as magnetic anisotropy, surface and bulk coercivities, magnetic homogeneity and magnetization all affect the magnetostrictive response of the material. We have used ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) at microwave frequencies to study the magnetic anisotropy and homogeneity; vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) to study the bulk magnetic hysteresis responses and coercivity; and the longitudinal magneto-optic kerr effect (LMOKE) to study the surface magnetic hysteresis responses and coercivity. The isothermalmagnetic annealing effect on these properties has also been studied in detail. The fiber optic magnetic field sensor constructed using the metallic-glass-coated fiber was tested. An electronic feedback control loop using a PZT cylinder was constructed for stabilizing the sensor operation. Magnetic field detection at different dither frequencies was studied in detail. The estimated minimum detectable magnetic field was about 3 times 10^{-7 } Oe. A simplified elastic model was used for the theoretical calculation of the phase shift induced in a metallic-glass -coated optical fiber with a longitudinal applied magnetic field. The phase shift as a function of coating thickness was calculated, and the experimental results at certain thicknesses were compared with the calculation. The frequency response of the FOMS was also studied in some detail. Three different configurations were used for the study of the frequency response. The results indicate that the resonances observed in the FOMS are most likely related to the mechanical resonance of the optical fiber.

Isolation of Thermal and Strain Responses in Composites Using Embedded Fiber Bragg Grating Temperature Sensors

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-10

13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14. ABSTRACT In this research, fiber Bragg grating ( FBG ) optical temperature sensors are used for structural health...surface of a composite structure. FBG sensors also respond to axial strain in the optical fiber, thus any structural strain experienced by the composite...features. First, a three-dimensional array of FBG temperature sensors has been embedded in a carbon/epoxy composite structure, consisting of both in

Optical monitoring of thin film electro-polymerization on surface of ITO-coated lossy-mode resonance sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sobaszek, Michał; Dominik, Magdalena; Burnat, Dariusz; Bogdanowicz, Robert; Stranak, Viteszlav; Sezemsky, Petr; Śmietana, Mateusz

2017-04-01

This work presents an optical fiber sensors based on lossy-mode resonance (LMR) phenomenon supported by indium tin oxide (ITO) thin overlay for investigation of electro-polymerization effect on ITO's surface. The ITO overlays were deposited on core of polymer-clad silica (PCS) fibers using reactive magnetron sputtering (RMS) method. Since ITO is electrically conductive and electrochemically active it can be used as a working electrode in 3-electrode cyclic voltammetry setup. For fixed potential applied to the electrode current flow decrease with time what corresponds to polymer layer formation on the ITO surface. Since LMR phenomenon depends on optical properties in proximity of the ITO surface, polymer layer formation can be monitored optically in real time. The electrodeposition process has been performed with Isatin which is a strong endogenous neurochemical regulator in humans as it is a metabolic derivative of adrenaline. It was found that optical detection of Isatin is possible in the proposed configuration.

Development of a TiO2 modified optical fiber electrode and its incorporation into a photoelectrochemical reactor for wastewater treatment.

PubMed

Esquivel, K; Arriaga, L G; Rodríguez, F J; Martínez, L; Godínez, Luis A

2009-08-01

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) are used to chemically burn non biodegradable complex organic compounds that are present in polluted effluents. A common approach involves the use of TiO2 semiconductor substrates as either photocatalytic or photoelectrocatalytic materials in reactors that produce a powerful oxidant (hydroxyl radical) that reacts with pollutant species. In this context, the purpose of this work is to develop a new TiO2 based photoanode using an optic fiber support. The novel arrangement of a TiO2 layer positioned on top of a surface modified optical fiber substrate, allowed the construction of a photoelectrochemical reactor that works on the basis of an internally illuminated approach. In this way, a semi-conductive optical fiber modified surface was prepared using 30 microm thickness SnO2:Sb films on which the photoactive TiO2 layer was electrophoretically deposited. UV light transmission experiments were conducted to evaluate the transmittance along the optical fiber covered with SnO2:Sb and TiO2 showing that 43% of UV light reached the optical fiber tip. With different illumination configurations (external or internal), it was possible to get an increase in the amount of photo-generated H(2)O(2) close to 50% as compared to different types of TiO2 films. Finally, the electro-Fenton photoelectrocatalytic Oxidation process studied in this work was able to achieve total color removal of Azo orange II dye (15 mg L(-1)) and a 57% removal of total organic carbon (TOC) within 60 min of degradation time.

Ultra Small Integrated Optical Fiber Sensing System

PubMed Central

Van Hoe, Bram; Lee, Graham; Bosman, Erwin; Missinne, Jeroen; Kalathimekkad, Sandeep; Maskery, Oliver; Webb, David J.; Sugden, Kate; Van Daele, Peter; Van Steenberge, Geert

2012-01-01

This paper introduces a revolutionary way to interrogate optical fiber sensors based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and to integrate the necessary driving optoelectronic components with the sensor elements. Low-cost optoelectronic chips are used to interrogate the optical fibers, creating a portable dynamic sensing system as an alternative for the traditionally bulky and expensive fiber sensor interrogation units. The possibility to embed these laser and detector chips is demonstrated resulting in an ultra thin flexible optoelectronic package of only 40 μm, provided with an integrated planar fiber pigtail. The result is a fully embedded flexible sensing system with a thickness of only 1 mm, based on a single Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL), fiber sensor and photodetector chip. Temperature, strain and electrodynamic shaking tests have been performed on our system, not limited to static read-out measurements but dynamically reconstructing full spectral information datasets.

Dynamic fracture toughness of cellulose-fiber-reinforced polypropylene : preliminary investigation of microstructural effects

Treesearch

Craig M. Clemons; Daniel F. Caulfield; A. Jeffrey Giacomin

1999-10-01

In this study, the microstructure of injection-molded polypropylene reinforced with cellulose fiber was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surfaces and X-ray diffraction were used to investigate fiber orientation. The polypropylene matrix was removed by solvent extraction, and the lengths of the residual fibers were optically determined. Fiber...

DNA-Aptamer optical biosensors based on a LPG-SPR optical fiber platform for point-of-care diagnostic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coelho, L.; Queirós, R. B.; Santos, J. L.; Martins, M. Cristina L.; Viegas, D.; Jorge, P. A. S.

2014-03-01

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is the base for some of the most sensitive label free optical fiber biosensors. However, most solutions presented to date require the use of fragile fiber optic structure such as adiabatic tapers or side polished fibers. On the other hand, long-period fiber gratings (LPG) present themselves as an interesting solution to attain an evanescent wave refractive index sensor platform while preserving the optical fiber integrity. The combination of these two approaches constitute a powerful platform that can potentially reach the highest sensitivities as it was recently demonstrated by detailed theoretical study [1, 2]. In this work, a LPG-SPR platform is explored in different configurations (metal coating between two LPG - symmetric and asymmetric) operating in the telecom band (around 1550 nm). For this purpose LPGs with period of 396 μm are combined with tailor made metallic thin films. In particular, the sensing regions were coated with 2 nm of chromium to improve the adhesion to the fiber and 16 nm of gold followed by a 100 nm thick layer of TiO2 dielectric material strategically chosen to attain plasmon resonance in the desired wavelength range. The obtained refractometric platforms were then validated as a biosensor. For this purpose the detection of thrombin using an aptamer based probe was used as a model system for protein detection. The surface of the sensing fibers were cleaned with isopropanol and dried with N2 and then the aminated thrombin aptamer (5'-[NH2]- GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG-3') was immobilized by physisorption using Poly-L-Lysine (PLL) as cationic polymer. Preliminary results indicate the viability of the LPFG-SPR-APTAMER as a flexible platforms point of care diagnostic biosensors.

Microstructured Optical Fiber-based Biosensors: Reversible and Nanoliter-Scale Measurement of Zinc Ions.

PubMed

Heng, Sabrina; McDevitt, Christopher A; Kostecki, Roman; Morey, Jacqueline R; Eijkelkamp, Bart A; Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Heike; Monro, Tanya M; Abell, Andrew D

2016-05-25

Sensing platforms that allow rapid and efficient detection of metal ions would have applications in disease diagnosis and study, as well as environmental sensing. Here, we report the first microstructured optical fiber-based biosensor for the reversible and nanoliter-scale measurement of metal ions. Specifically, a photoswitchable spiropyran Zn(2+) sensor is incorporated within the microenvironment of a liposome attached to microstructured optical fibers (exposed-core and suspended-core microstructured optical fibers). Both fiber-based platforms retains high selectivity of ion binding associated with a small molecule sensor, while also allowing nanoliter volume sampling and on/off switching. We have demonstrated that multiple measurements can be made on a single sample without the need to change the sensor. The ability of the new sensing platform to sense Zn(2+) in pleural lavage and nasopharynx of mice was compared to that of established ion sensing methodologies such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and a commercially available fluorophore (Fluozin-3), where the optical-fiber-based sensor provides a significant advantage in that it allows the use of nanoliter (nL) sampling when compared to ICP-MS (mL) and FluoZin-3 (μL). This work paves the way to a generic approach for developing surface-based ion sensors using a range of sensor molecules, which can be attached to a surface without the need for its chemical modification and presents an opportunity for the development of new and highly specific ion sensors for real time sensing applications.

Manufacturing Precise, Lightweight Paraboloidal Mirrors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hermann, Frederick Thomas

2006-01-01

A process for fabricating a precise, diffraction- limited, ultra-lightweight, composite- material (matrix/fiber) paraboloidal telescope mirror has been devised. Unlike the traditional process of fabrication of heavier glass-based mirrors, this process involves a minimum of manual steps and subjective judgment. Instead, this process involves objectively controllable, repeatable steps; hence, this process is better suited for mass production. Other processes that have been investigated for fabrication of precise composite-material lightweight mirrors have resulted in print-through of fiber patterns onto reflecting surfaces, and have not provided adequate structural support for maintenance of stable, diffraction-limited surface figures. In contrast, this process does not result in print-through of the fiber pattern onto the reflecting surface and does provide a lightweight, rigid structure capable of maintaining a diffraction-limited surface figure in the face of changing temperature, humidity, and air pressure. The process consists mainly of the following steps: 1. A precise glass mandrel is fabricated by conventional optical grinding and polishing. 2. The mandrel is coated with a release agent and covered with layers of a carbon- fiber composite material. 3. The outer surface of the outer layer of the carbon-fiber composite material is coated with a surfactant chosen to provide for the proper flow of an epoxy resin to be applied subsequently. 4. The mandrel as thus covered is mounted on a temperature-controlled spin table. 5. The table is heated to a suitable temperature and spun at a suitable speed as the epoxy resin is poured onto the coated carbon-fiber composite material. 6. The surface figure of the optic is monitored and adjusted by use of traditional Ronchi, Focault, and interferometric optical measurement techniques while the speed of rotation and the temperature are adjusted to obtain the desired figure. The proper selection of surfactant, speed or rotation, viscosity of the epoxy, and temperature make it possible to obtain the desired diffraction-limited, smooth (1/50th wave) parabolic outer surface, suitable for reflective coating. 7. A reflective coat is applied by use of conventional coating techniques. 8. Once the final figure is set, a lightweight structural foam is applied to the rear of the optic to ensure stability of the figure.

Observation of Biological Tissues Using Common Path Optical Coherence Tomography with Gold Coated Conical Tip Lens Fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taguchi, K.; Sugiyama, J.; Totsuka, M.; Imanaka, S.

2012-03-01

In this paper, we proposed a high lateral resolution common-path Fourier domain optical coherence tomography(OCT) system with the use of a chemically etched single mode fiber. In our experiments, single mode optical fiber for 1310nm was used for preparing the tapered tips. Our system used a conical microlens that was chemically etched by selective chemical etching technique using an etching solution of buffered hydrofluoric acid (BHF). From experimental results, we verified that our proposed optical coherence tomography system could operate as a common-path Fourier domain OCT system and conical tip lens fiber was very useful for a high lateral resolution common-path Fourier domain OCT system. Furthermore, we could observe a surface of paramecium bursaria and symbiotic chlorella in the paramecium bursaria using gold coated conical-tip fiber in the water.

Applications of fiber-optics-based nanosensors to drug discovery.

PubMed

Vo-Dinh, Tuan; Scaffidi, Jonathan; Gregas, Molly; Zhang, Yan; Seewaldt, Victoria

2009-08-01

Fiber-optic nanosensors are fabricated by heating and pulling optical fibers to yield sub-micron diameter tips and have been used for in vitro analysis of individual living mammalian cells. Immobilization of bioreceptors (e.g., antibodies, peptides, DNA) selective to targeting analyte molecules of interest provides molecular specificity. Excitation light can be launched into the fiber, and the resulting evanescent field at the tip of the nanofiber can be used to excite target molecules bound to the bioreceptor molecules. The fluorescence or surface-enhanced Raman scattering produced by the analyte molecules is detected using an ultra-sensitive photodetector. This article provides an overview of the development and application of fiber-optic nanosensors for drug discovery. The nanosensors provide minimally invasive tools to probe subcellular compartments inside single living cells for health effect studies (e.g., detection of benzopyrene adducts) and medical applications (e.g., monitoring of apoptosis in cells treated with anticancer drugs).

Evanescent wave assisted nanomaterial coating.

PubMed

Mondal, Samir K; Pal, Sudipta Sarkar; Kumbhakar, Dharmadas; Tiwari, Umesh; Bhatnagar, Randhir

2013-08-01

In this work we present a novel nanomaterial coating technique using evanescent wave (EW). The gradient force in the EW is used as an optical tweezer for tweezing and self-assembling nanoparticles on the source of EW. As a proof of the concept, we have used a laser coupled etched multimode optical fiber, which generates EW for the EW assisted coating. The section-wise etched multimode optical fiber is horizontally and superficially dipped into a silver/gold nanoparticles solution while the laser is switched on. The fiber is left until the solution recedes due to evaporation leaving the fiber in air. The coating time usually takes 40-50 min at room temperature. The scanning electron microscope image shows uniform and thin coating of self-assembled nanoparticles due to EW around the etched section. A coating thickness <200 nm is achieved. The technique could be useful for making surface-plasmon-resonance-based optical fiber probes and other plasmonic circuits.

Seismic fiber optic multiplexed sensors for exploration and reservoir management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Houston, Mark H.

2000-12-01

Reliable downhole communications, control and sensor networks will dramatically improve oil reservoir management practices and will enable the construction of intelligent or smart-well completions. Fiber optic technology will play a key role in the implementation of these communication, control and sensing systems because of inherent advantages of power, weight and reliability over more conventional electronic-based systems. Field test data, acquired using an array of fiber optic seismic hydrophones within a steam-flood, heavy oil- production filed, showed a significant improvement (10X in this specific case) in subsurface resolution as compared to conventional surface seismic acquisition. These results demonstrate the viability of using multiplexed fiber optic sensors for exploration and reservoir management in 3D vertical seismic profiling (VSP) surveys and in permanent sensor arrays for 4D surveys.

Mixed C18 and C1 modification on an optical fiber for chromatographic sensing.

PubMed

Zhou, Leiji; Wang, Kemin; Zuo, Xinbing; Choi, Martin M F; Chen, Yunqing; Huang, Shasheng

2003-09-01

An optical fiber-chromatographic sensor, aiming at simultaneous and selective response to multiple components following a chromatographic separation, is described. We report an improved approach for immobilization of octadecyl (C(18)) and methyl (C(1)) moieties as stationary phase on an optical fiber suitable as a sensing phase for organic solutes. By this approach, the stability and lifetime of the sensing layer as well as the detectability and retention behavior of the chromatographic sensor could be improved. Infrared spectroscopy was employed to confirm the presence of C(18) and C(1) moieties on the modified surface of the optical fiber. The chromatographic sensor was applied, with good sensitivity and chemical selectivity, to the simultaneous separation and detection of bromobenzene and toluene, using water as the mobile phase.

Multimaterial Acoustic Fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chocat, Noemie

The emergence of multimaterial fibers that combine a multiplicity of solid materials with disparate electrical, optical, and mechanical properties into a single fiber presents new opportunities for extending fiber applications well beyond optical transmission. Fiber reflectors, thermal detectors, photodetectors, chemical sensors, surface-emitting fiber lasers, fiber diodes, and other functional fiber devices have been demonstrated with this approach. Yet, throughout this development and indeed the development of fibers in general, a key premise has remained unchanged : that fibers are essentially static devices incapable of controllably changing their properties at high frequencies. Unique opportunities would arise if a rapid, electrically-driven mechanism for changing fiber properties existed. A wide spectrum of hitherto passive fiber devices could at once become active with applications spanning electronics, mechanics, acoustics, and optics, with the benefits of large surface-area, structural robustness, and mechanical flexibility. This thesis addresses the challenges and opportunities associated with the realization of electromechanical transduction in fibers through the integration of internal piezoelectric and electrostrictive domains. The fundamental challenges related to the fabrication of piezoelectric devices in fiber form are analyzed from a materials perspective, and candidate materials and geometries are selected that are compatible with the thermal drawing process. The first realization of a thermally drawn piezoelectric fiber device is reported and its piezoelectric response is established over a wide range of frequencies. The acoustic properties of piezoelectric fiber devices are characterized and related to their mechanical and geometric properties. Collective effects in multi-fiber constructs are discussed and demonstrated by the realization of a linear phased array of piezoelectric fibers capable of acoustic beam steering. High strain actuation capabilities in a fiber are demonstrated based on the integration of a highly electrostrictive relaxor ferroelectric polymer. The potential of this approach to realize integrated microelectromechanical systems in fibers is illustrated by the fabrication of a hybrid fiber comprising an electrostrictive device and an adjacent Fabry-Perot optical filter. Amplitude modulation of the light reflected from the Fabry-Perot cavity is demonstrated through electric field induced tuning of the cavity resonance. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, libraries.mit.edu/docs - docs@mit.edu)

Compact multiwavelength transmitter module for multimode fiber optic ribbon cable

DOEpatents

Deri, Robert J.; Pocha, Michael D.; Larson, Michael C.; Garrett, Henry E.

2002-01-01

A compact multiwavelength transmitter module for multimode fiber optic ribbon cable, which couples light from an M.times.N array of emitters onto N fibers, where the M wavelength may be distributed across two or more vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) chips, and combining emitters and multiplexer into a compact package that is compatible with placement on a printed circuit board. A key feature is bringing together two emitter arrays fabricated on different substrates--each array designed for a different wavelength--into close physical proximity. Another key feature is to compactly and efficiently combine the light from two or more clusters of optical emitters, each in a different wavelength band, into a fiber ribbon.

Design and optimization of broadband tapered optical fibers with a nanofiber waist.

PubMed

Stiebeiner, Ariane; Garcia-Fernandez, Ruth; Rauschenbeutel, Arno

2010-10-25

The control over the transmission properties of tapered optical fibers (TOFs) is an important requirement for a whole range of applications. Using a carefully designed flame pulling process that allows us to realize preset fiber radius profiles, we fabricate TOFs with a nanofiber waist. We study the spectral transmission properties of these TOFs as a function of the taper profile and the waist length and show how the transmission band of the TOF can be tuned via different fiber profile parameters. Based on these results, we have designed a nanofiber-waist TOF with broadband transmission for surface spectroscopy of organic molecules. Moreover, our method allows us to analyze the loss mechanisms of optical nanofibers.

Optrode for sensing hydrocarbons

DOEpatents

Miller, Holly; Milanovich, Fred P.; Hirschfeld, Tomas B.; Miller, Fred S.

1987-01-01

A two-phase system employing the Fujiwara reaction is provided for the fluorometric detection of halogenated hydrocarbons. A fiber optic is utilized to illuminate a column of pyridine trapped in a capillary tube coaxially attached at one end to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A strongly alkaline condition necessary for the reaction is maintained by providing a reservoir of alkali in contact with the column of pyridine, the surface of contact being adjacent to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A semipermeable membrane caps the other end of the capillary tube, the membrane being preferentially permeable to the halogenated hydrocarbon and but preferentially impermeable to water and pyridine. As the halogenated hydrocarbon diffuses through the membrane and into the column of pyridine, fluorescent reaction products are formed. Light propagated by the fiber optic from a light source, excites the fluorescent products. Light from the fluorescence emission is also collected by the same fiber optic and transmitted to a detector. The intensity of the fluorescence gives a measure of the concentration of the halogenated hydrocarbons.

Optrode for sensing hydrocarbons

DOEpatents

Miller, H.; Milanovich, F.P.; Hirschfeld, T.B.; Miller, F.S.

1987-05-19

A two-phase system employing the Fujiwara reaction is provided for the fluorometric detection of halogenated hydrocarbons. A fiber optic is utilized to illuminate a column of pyridine trapped in a capillary tube coaxially attached at one end to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A strongly alkaline condition necessary for the reaction is maintained by providing a reservoir of alkali in contact with the column of pyridine, the surface of contact being adjacent to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A semipermeable membrane caps the other end of the capillary tube, the membrane being preferentially permeable to the halogenated hydrocarbon but preferentially impermeable to water and pyridine. As the halogenated hydrocarbon diffuses through the membrane and into the column of pyridine, fluorescent reaction products are formed. Light propagated by the fiber optic from a light source, excites the fluorescent products. Light from the fluorescence emission is also collected by the same fiber optic and transmitted to a detector. The intensity of the fluorescence gives a measure of the concentration of the halogenated hydrocarbons. 6 figs.

Optrode for sensing hydrocarbons

DOEpatents

Miller, H.; Milanovich, F.P.; Hirschfeld, T.B.; Miller, F.S.

1988-09-13

A two-phase system employing the Fujiwara reaction is provided for the fluorometric detection of halogenated hydrocarbons. A fiber optic is utilized to illuminate a column of pyridine trapped in a capillary tube coaxially attached at one end to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A strongly alkaline condition necessary for the reaction is maintained by providing a reservoir of alkali in contact with the column of pyridine, the surface of contact being adjacent to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A semipermeable membrane caps the other end of the capillary tube, the membrane being preferentially permeable to the halogenated hydrocarbon and but preferentially impermeable to water and pyridine. As the halogenated hydrocarbon diffuses through the membrane and into the column of pyridine, fluorescent reaction products are formed. Light propagated by the fiber optic from a light source, excites the fluorescent products. Light from the fluorescence emission is also collected by the same fiber optic and transmitted to a detector. The intensity of the fluorescence gives a measure of the concentration of the halogenated hydrocarbons. 5 figs.

Optrode for sensing hydrocarbons

DOEpatents

Miller, Holly; Milanovich, Fred P.; Hirschfeld, Tomas B.; Miller, Fred S.

1988-01-01

A two-phase system employing the Fujiwara reaction is provided for the fluorometric detection of halogenated hydrocarbons. A fiber optic is utilized to illuminate a column of pyridine trapped in a capillary tube coaxially attached at one end to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A strongly alkaline condition necessary for the reaction is maintained by providing a reservoir of alkali in contact with the column of pyridine, the surface of contact being adjacent to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A semipermeable membrane caps the other end of the capillary tube, the membrane being preferentially permeable to the halogenated hydrocarbon and but preferentially impermeable to water and pyridine. As the halogenated hydrocarbon diffuses through the membrane and into the column of pyridine, fluorescent reaction products are formed. Light propagated by the fiber optic from a light source, excites the fluorescent products. Light from the fluorescence emission is also collected by the same fiber optic and transmitted to a detector. The intensity of the fluorescence gives a measure of the concentration of the halogenated hydrocarbons.

Distributed fluorescent optical fiber proximity sensor: Towards a proof of concept.

PubMed

Gălătuș, Ramona; Faragó, Paul; Miluski, Piotr; Valles, Juan-Antonio

2018-06-05

Fluorescent fibers are optical fibers which emit light as a response to an incident phenomenon, usually an incident light. Operation depends on the doping dyes, which determine specific fluorescence and optical characteristics useful in the development of optical sensors. In this work we propose a low-cost distributed proximity sensor implemented using a red fluorescent fiber, to provide a security option for a surface plasmon resonance system. Operation of the proposed sensor relies on having the incident illumination intensity varied by the presence or absence of an obstacle in the vicinity of the sensing element. This will influence the radiated fluorescence accordingly. The proposed setup for the implementation of the optical proximity sensor assumes having a high brightness LED deployed for axial fiber illumination and a blue LED for side illumination. Electronic processing then accounts for gain and digitization. Measurement results of the prototype validate the proposed concept. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a 1 x N Fiber Optic Sensor Array for Carbon Sequestration Site Monitoring

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Repasky, Kevin

2014-02-01

A fiber sensor array for sub-surface CO 2 concentrations measurements was developed for monitoring geologic carbon sequestration sites. The fiber sensor array uses a single temperature tunable distributed feedback (DFB) laser operating with a nominal wavelength of 2.004 μm. Light from this DFB laser is direct to one of the 4 probes via an in-line 1 x 4 fiber optic switch. Each of the 4 probes are buried and allow the sub-surface CO 2 to enter the probe through Millipore filters that allow the soil gas to enter the probe but keeps out the soil and water. Light from themore » DFB laser interacts with the CO 2 before it is directed back through the in-line fiber optic switch. The DFB laser is tuned across two CO 2 absorption features where a transmission measurement is made allowing the CO 2 concentration to be retrieved. The fiber optic switch then directs the light to the next probe where this process is repeated allowing sub-surface CO 2 concentration measurements at each of the probes to be made as a function of time. The fiber sensor array was deployed for fifty-eight days beginning June 19, 2012 at the Zero Emission Research Technology (ZERT) field site where sub-surface CO 2 concentrations were monitored. Background measurements indicate the fiber sensor array can monitor background levels as low as 1,000 parts per million (ppm). A thirty four day sub-surface release of 0.15 tones CO 2/day began on July 10, 2012. The elevated subsurface CO 2 concentration was easily detected by each of the four probes with values ranging to over 60,000 ppm, a factor of greater than 6 higher than background measurements. The fiber sensor array was also deploy at the Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership (BSCSP) site in north-central Montana between July 9th and August 7th, 2013 where background measurements were made in a remote sequestration site with minimal infrastructure. The project provided opportunities for two graduate students to participate in research directly related to geologic carbon sequestration. Furthermore, commercialization of the technology developed is being pursued with five different companies via the Department of energy SBIR/STTR program« less

Isoelectric Bovine Serum Albumin: Robust Blocking Agent for Enhanced Performance in Optical-Fiber Based DNA Sensing.

PubMed

Wang, Ruoyu; Zhou, Xiaohong; Zhu, Xiyu; Yang, Chao; Liu, Lanhua; Shi, Hanchang

2017-02-24

Surface blocking is a well-known process for reducing unwanted nonspecific adsorption in sensor fabrication, especially important in the emerging field where DNA/RNA applied. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is one of the most popular blocking agents with an isoelectric point at pH 4.6. Although it is widely recognized that the adsorption of a blocking agent is strongly affected by its net charge and the maximum adsorption is often observed under its isoelectric form, BSA has long been perfunctorily used for blocking merely in neutral solution, showing poor blocking performances in the optical-fiber evanescent wave (OFEW) based sensing toward DNA target. To meet this challenge, we first put forward the view that isoelectric BSA (iep-BSA) has the best blocking performance and use an OFEW sensor platform to demonstrate this concept. An optical-fiber was covalently modified with amino-DNA, and further coupled with the optical system to detect fluorophore labeled complementary DNA within the evanescent field. A dramatic improvement in the reusability of this DNA modified sensing surface was achieved with 120 stable detection cycles, which ensured accurate quantitative bioassay. As expected, the iep-BSA blocked OFEW system showed enhanced sensing performance toward target DNA with a detection limit of 125 pM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest number of regeneration cycles ever reported for a DNA immobilized optical-fiber surface. This study can also serve as a good reference and provide important implications for developing similar DNA-directed surface biosensors.

VCSEL optical subassembly for avionics fiber optic modules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hager, Harold E.; Chan, Eric Y.; Beranek, Mark W.; Hong, Chi-Shain

1996-04-01

With the growing maturation of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) technology as a source of commercial off-the-shelf components, the question of VCSEL suitability for use in avionics-qualifiable fiber-optic systems naturally follows. This paper addresses avionics suitability from two perspectives. First, measured performance and burn-in reliability results, determined from characterization of Honeywell VCSELs, are compared with application-based military and commercial avionics environmental requirements. Second, design guidelines for developing a cost-effective VCSEL optical subassembly (VCSEL/OSA) are outlined.

A fiber-optic technique for the measurement of contact angle in a clearance-fit pin-loaded hole

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prabhakaran, R.; Naik, R. A.

1987-01-01

A fiber-optic technique for measuring contact angle during pin loading of a specimen is proposed. The experimental design and procedures for loading a 49.8-mm-diameter instrumented pin into an quasi-isotropic graphite-epoxy specimen are described. The optical fiber was located just above the surface of the pin outer diameter in order to obtain accurate pin-hole contact-angle measurements at increasing load levels. The movement of the optical fiber through the no-contact, contact, and no-contact regions is discussed; the photodiode output decreased monotonically as the fiber moved from the no-contact to the contact region and then decreased monotonically as the fiber moved from the contact region to the no-contact region. Variations in the contact angle measurements are examined as function of applied load level. The measurements are compared to contact angle values obtained using a finite element analysis and an electrical technique; it is determined that the data correlate well.

Fiber-optic particle plasmon resonance sensor for detection of interleukin-1β in synovial fluids.

PubMed

Chiang, Chang-Yue; Hsieh, Ming-Lung; Huang, Kuo-Wei; Chau, Lai-Kwan; Chang, Chia-Ming; Lyu, Shaw-Ruey

2010-11-15

A facile and label-free biosensing method has been developed for determining an osteoarthritis concerned cytokine, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), in synovial fluids. The biosensing technique, fiber-optic particle plasmon resonance (FOPPR), is based on gold nanoparticles-modified optical fiber where the gold nanoparticle surface has been modified by a mixed self-assembled monolayer for further conjugation of anti-IL-1β antibody and minimization of nonspecific adsorption. Upon binding of IL-1β to anti-IL-1β on the gold nanoparticle surface, the absorbance of the gold nanoparticle layer on the optical fiber changes and the signal change is enhanced through multiple total internal reflections along the optical fiber. Results show that the detection of IL-1β in synovial fluid by this sensor agrees quantitatively with the clinically accepted enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method but a much shorter analysis time is required (<10 min). The sensor response versus log concentration of IL-1β was linear (r=0.9947) over the concentration range of 0.050-10 ng/mL and a limit of detection (LOD) of 21 pg/mL (1.2 pM) was achieved. Such a LOD for IL-1β (17 kDa) represents a major advancement in the field of real-time monitoring of low molecular weight proteins in complex biological fluids. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface plasmon resonance sensing in gaseous media with optical fiber gratings.

PubMed

González-Vila, Álvaro; Ioannou, Andreas; Loyez, Médéric; Debliquy, Marc; Lahem, Driss; Caucheteur, Christophe

2018-05-15

Surface plasmon resonance excitation with optical fiber gratings has been typically studied in aqueous solutions. This work describes the procedure to excite a plasmon wave in gaseous media and perform refractive index measurements in these environments. Grating photo-inscription with 193 nm excimer laser radiation allows us to obtain slightly tilted fiber Bragg gratings exhibiting a cladding mode resonance comb along several hundreds of nanometers. Their refractive index sensitive range extends from gases to liquids, so operation in both media is compared. We demonstrate that the thickness of the metal coating required for surface plasmon excitation in gases is roughly one third of the one usually used for liquids. The developed platforms exhibit a temperature insensitive response of 78 nm/RIU when tested with different gases.

Label-Free Detection of Cancer Biomarkers Using an In-Line Taper Fiber-Optic Interferometer and a Fiber Bragg Grating

PubMed Central

Sun, Dandan; Wang, Guanjun

2017-01-01

A compact and label-free optical fiber sensor based on a taper interferometer cascaded with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for detection of a breast cancer biomarker (HER2). The tapered fiber-optic interferometer is extremely sensitive to the ambient refractive index (RI). In addition, being insensitive to the RI variation, the FBG can be applied as a temperature thermometer due to its independent response to the temperature. Surface functionalization to the sensor is carried out to achieve specific targeting of the unlabeled biomarkers. The result shows that the proposed sensor presents a low limit-of-detection (LOD) of 2 ng/mL, enabling its potentials of application in early diagnosis on the breast cancer. PMID:29113127

Development of a miniaturized optical viscosity sensor with an optical surface tracking system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abe, H.; Nagamachi, R.; Taguchi, Y.; Nagasaka, Y.

2010-02-01

A new viscosity sensor enabling non-contact measurement at high speed, with less sample volume and high stability is required in a broad field. For example, in the industrial field, process control by real time monitoring of viscosity can enhance the quality of coating films and the process yield such as conductive films and optical films. Therefore, we have developed a new miniaturized optical viscosity sensor, namely MOVS (Miniaturized Optical Viscosity Sensor), based on a laser-induced capillary wave (LiCW) method which can meet the requirements above. In the MOVS, viscosity is estimated by observing the damping oscillation of LiCW, which is generated by an interference of two excitation laser beams on a liquid surface. By irradiating a probing laser on LiCW, a first order diffracted beam containing information of sample viscosity, is generated. The intensity of the reflected beam is utilized to control the distance between liquid-level and the sensor. The newly integrated optical surface tracking system makes possible the stable viscosity measurement in the presence of disturbance such as evaporation and external vibration. MOVS consists of five U-grooves fabricated by MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) process to possess the optical fibers (photonic crystal fibers and fusion-spliced lensed fibers). In this study, by integrating the optical surface tracking system on the chip, nanosecond order damping oscillation of LiCW is successfully observed in the presence of external forced vibration, high speed evaporation (speed of 1 micrometer per second) and drying process of a liquid film (thickness of hundreds micrometer order).

Measurement of Entrance Surface Dose on an Anthropomorphic Thorax Phantom Using a Miniature Fiber-Optic Dosimeter

PubMed Central

Yoo, Wook Jae; Shin, Sang Hun; Jeon, Dayeong; Hong, Seunghan; Sim, Hyeok In; Kim, Seon Geun; Jang, Kyoung Won; Cho, Seunghyun; Youn, Won Sik; Lee, Bongsoo

2014-01-01

A miniature fiber-optic dosimeter (FOD) system was fabricated using a plastic scintillating fiber, a plastic optical fiber, and a multi-pixel photon counter to measure real-time entrance surface dose (ESD) during radiation diagnosis. Under varying exposure parameters of a digital radiography (DR) system, we measured the scintillating light related to the ESD using the sensing probe of the FOD, which was placed at the center of the beam field on an anthropomorphic thorax phantom. Also, we obtained DR images using a flat panel detector of the DR system to evaluate the effects of the dosimeter on image artifacts during posteroanterior (PA) chest radiography. From the experimental results, the scintillation output signals of the FOD were similar to the ESDs including backscatter simultaneously obtained using a semiconductor dosimeter. We demonstrated that the proposed miniature FOD can be used to measure real-time ESDs with minimization of DR image artifacts in the X-ray energy range of diagnostic radiology. PMID:24694678

Measurement of entrance surface dose on an anthropomorphic thorax phantom using a miniature fiber-optic dosimeter.

PubMed

Yoo, Wook Jae; Shin, Sang Hun; Jeon, Dayeong; Hong, Seunghan; Sim, Hyeok In; Kim, Seon Geun; Jang, Kyoung Won; Cho, Seunghyun; Youn, Won Sik; Lee, Bongsoo

2014-04-01

A miniature fiber-optic dosimeter (FOD) system was fabricated using a plastic scintillating fiber, a plastic optical fiber, and a multi-pixel photon counter to measure real-time entrance surface dose (ESD) during radiation diagnosis. Under varying exposure parameters of a digital radiography (DR) system, we measured the scintillating light related to the ESD using the sensing probe of the FOD, which was placed at the center of the beam field on an anthropomorphic thorax phantom. Also, we obtained DR images using a flat panel detector of the DR system to evaluate the effects of the dosimeter on image artifacts during posteroanterior (PA) chest radiography. From the experimental results, the scintillation output signals of the FOD were similar to the ESDs including backscatter simultaneously obtained using a semiconductor dosimeter. We demonstrated that the proposed miniature FOD can be used to measure real-time ESDs with minimization of DR image artifacts in the X-ray energy range of diagnostic radiology.

Variable path length spectrophotometric probe

DOEpatents

O'Rourke, Patrick E.; McCarty, Jerry E.; Haggard, Ricky A.

1992-01-01

A compact, variable pathlength, fiber optic probe for spectrophotometric measurements of fluids in situ. The probe comprises a probe body with a shaft having a polished end penetrating one side of the probe, a pair of optic fibers, parallel and coterminous, entering the probe opposite the reflecting shaft, and a collimating lens to direct light from one of the fibers to the reflecting surface of the shaft and to direct the reflected light to the second optic fiber. The probe body has an inlet and an outlet port to allow the liquid to enter the probe body and pass between the lens and the reflecting surface of the shaft. A linear stepper motor is connected to the shaft to cause the shaft to advance toward or away from the lens in increments so that absorption measurements can be made at each of the incremental steps. The shaft is sealed to the probe body by a bellows seal to allow freedom of movement of the shaft and yet avoid leakage from the interior of the probe.

Evanescent wave absorbance based fiber optic biosensor for label-free detection of E. coli at 280 nm wavelength.

PubMed

Bharadwaj, Reshma; Sai, V V R; Thakare, Kamini; Dhawangale, Arvind; Kundu, Tapanendu; Titus, Susan; Verma, Pradeep Kumar; Mukherji, Soumyo

2011-03-15

A novel label-free technique for the detection of pathogens based on evanescent wave absorbance (EWA) changes at 280 nm from a U-bent optical fiber sensor is demonstrated. Bending a decladded fiber into a U-shaped structure enhances the penetration depth of evanescent waves and hence sensitivity of the probe. We show that the enhanced EWA response from such U-bent probes, caused by the inherent optical absorbance properties of bacterial cells or biomolecules specifically bound to the sensor surface, can be exploited for the detection of pathogens. A portable optical set-up with a UV light emitting diode, a spectrometer and U-bent fiber optic probe of 200 μm core diameter, 0.75 mm bend radius and effective probe length of 1cm demonstrated an ability to detect less than 1000 cfu/ml. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.

VCSEL-based fiber optic link for avionics: implementation and performance analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Jieqin; Zhang, Chunxi; Duan, Jingyuan; Wen, Huaitao

2006-11-01

A Gb/s fiber optic link with built-in test capability (BIT) basing on vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) sources for military avionics bus for next generation has been presented in this paper. To accurately predict link performance, statistical methods and Bit Error Rate (BER) measurements have been examined. The results show that the 1Gb/s fiber optic link meets the BER requirement and values for link margin can reach up to 13dB. Analysis shows that the suggested photonic network may provide high performance and low cost interconnections alternative for future military avionics.

Performance improvement of optical fiber coupler with electric heating versus gas heating.

PubMed

Shuai, Cijun; Gao, Chengde; Nie, Yi; Peng, Shuping

2010-08-20

Gas heating has been widely used in the process of fused biconical tapering. However, as the instability and asymmetric flame temperature of gas heating exist, the performance of the optical devices fabricated by this method was affected. To overcome the problems resulting from gas combustion, an electric heater is designed and manufactured using a metal-ceramic (MoSi(2)) as a heating material. Our experimental data show that the fused-taper machine with an electric heater has improved the performance of optical devices by increasing the consistency of the extinction ratio, excess loss, and the splitting ratio over that of the previous gas heating mode. Microcrystallizations and microcracks were observed at the fused region of the polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber coupler and at the taper region with scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy respectively. The distribution of the microcrystallizations and microcracks are nonuniform along the fiber with gas heating, while their distribution is rather uniform with electric heating. These findings show that the novel optical fiber coupler with an electric heater has improved the performance of optical fiber devices by affecting the consistency of the optical parameters and micromorphology of the surface of PM fiber.

Photothermal measurement of optical surface absorption using strain transducers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leslie, D. H.; Trusty, G. L.

1981-09-01

We discuss the measurement of small optical surface absorption coefficients. A demonstration experiment was performed using a metallurgical strain gauge to measure 488 nm absorption on the surface of a glass plate. A strain of 10 to the minus 8th power resulted from absorption of 0.3 watts. The results are interpreted and the sensitivity of a proposed fiber optic strain gauge is discussed.

A Multi-D-Shaped Optical Fiber for Refractive Index Sensing

PubMed Central

Chen, Chien-Hsing; Tsao, Tzu-Chein; Tang, Jaw-Luen; Wu, Wei-Te

2010-01-01

A novel class of multi-D-shaped optical fiber suited for refractive index measurements is presented. The multi-D-shaped optical fiber was constructed by forming several D-sections in a multimode optical fiber at localized regions with femtosecond laser pulses. The total number of D-shaped zones fabricated could range from three to seven. Each D-shaped zone covered a sensor volume of 100 μm depth, 250 μm width, and 1 mm length. The mean roughness of the core surface obtained by the AFM images was 231.7 nm, which is relatively smooth. Results of the tensile test indicated that the fibers have sufficient mechanical strength to resist damage from further processing. The multi-D-shaped optical fiber as a high sensitive refractive-index sensor to detect changes in the surrounding refractive index was studied. The results for different concentrations of sucrose solution show that a resolution of 1.27 × 10−3–3.13 × 10−4 RIU is achieved for refractive indices in the range of 1.333 to 1.403, suggesting that the multi-D-shaped fibers are attractive for chemical, biological, and biochemical sensing with aqueous solutions. PMID:22399908

Design of compact surface optical coupler based on vertically curved silicon waveguide for high-numerical-aperture single-mode optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atsumi, Yuki; Yoshida, Tomoya; Omoda, Emiko; Sakakibara, Youichi

2017-09-01

A surface optical coupler based on a vertically curved Si waveguide was designed for coupling with high-numerical aperture single-mode optical fibers with a mode-field diameter of 5 µm. This coupler has a quite small device size, with a height of approximately 12 µm, achieved by introducing an effective spot-size converter configured with the combination of an extremely short Si exponential-inverse taper and a dome-structured SiO2 lens formed on the coupler top. The designed coupler shows high-efficiency optical coupling, with a loss of 0.8 dB for TE polarized light, as well as broad-band coupling with a 0.5-dB-loss band of 420 nm.

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR)-Coupled Fiber-Optic Nanoprobe for the Detection of Protein Biomarkers.

PubMed

Wei, Jianjun; Zeng, Zheng; Lin, Yongbin

2017-01-01

Here is presented a miniaturized, fiber-optic (FO) nanoprobe biosensor based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) at the reusable dielectric-metallic hybrid interface with a robust, gold nano-disk array at the fiber end facet. The nanodisk array is directly fabricated using electron beam lithography (EBL) and metal lift-off process. The free prostate-specific antigen (f-PSA) has been detected with a mouse anti-human prostate-specific antigen (PSA) monoclonal antibody (mAb) as a specific receptor linked with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) at the LSPR-FO facet surfaces. Experimental investigation and data analysis found near field refractive index (RI) sensitivity at ~226 nm/RIU with the LSPR-FO nanoprobe, and demonstrated the lowest limit of detection (LOD) at 100 fg/mL (~3 fM) of f-PSA in PBS solutions. The SAM shows insignificant nonspecific binding to the target biomarkers in the solution. The control experimentation using 5 mg/mL bovine serum albumin in PBS and nonspecific surface test shows the excellent specificity and selectivity in the detection of f-PSA in PBS. These results indicate important progress toward a miniaturized, multifunctional fiber-optic technology that integrates informational communication and sensing function for developing a high-performance, label-free, point-of-care (POC) device.

An embedded fibre optic sensor for impact damage detection in composite materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glossop, Neil David William

1989-09-01

A structurally embedded fiber optic damage detection sensor for composite materials is described. The system is designed specifically for the detection of barely visible damage resulting from low velocity impacts in Kevlar-epoxy laminates. By monitoring the light transmission properties of optical fiber embedded in the composite, it was shown that the integrity of the material can be accurately determined. The effect of several parameters on the sensitivity of the system was investigated, including the effect of the optical fiber orientation and depth of embedding within the composite. A novel surface was also developed for the optical fibers to ensure they will fracture at the requisite damage level. The influence of the optical fiber sensors on the tensile and compressive material properties and on the impact resistance of the laminate was also studied. Extensive experimental results from impact tests are reported and a numerical model of the impact event is presented which is able to predict and model the damage mechanism and sensor system. A new and powerful method of nondestructive evaluation for translucent composite materials based on image enhanced backlighting is also described.

Experimental implementation of fiber optic bundle array wide FOV free space optical communications receiver.

PubMed

Brown, Andrea M; Hahn, Daniel V; Brown, David M; Rolander, Nathan W; Bair, Chun-Huei; Sluz, Joseph E

2012-06-20

A gimbal-free wide field-of-regard (FOR) optical receiver has been built in a laboratory setting for proof-of-concept testing. Multiple datasets are presented that examine the overall FOR of the system and the receiver's ability to track and collect a signal from a moving source. The design is not intended to compete with traditional free space optical communication systems, but rather offer an alternative design that minimizes the number and complexity of mechanical components required at the surface of a small mobile platform. The receiver is composed of a micro-lens array and hexagonal bundles of large core optical fibers that route the optical signal to remote detectors and electronics. Each fiber in the bundle collects power from a distinct solid angle of space and a piezo-electric transducer is used to translate the micro-lens array and optimize coupling into a given fiber core in the bundle. The micro-lens to fiber bundle design is scalable, modular, and can be replicated in an array to increase aperture size.

Natural Silk as a Photonics Component: a Study on Its Light Guiding and Nonlinear Optical Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kujala, Sami; Mannila, Anna; Karvonen, Lasse; Kieu, Khanh; Sun, Zhipei

2016-03-01

Silk fibers are expected to become a pathway to biocompatible and bioresorbable waveguides, which could be used to deliver localized optical power for various applications, e.g., optical therapy or imaging inside living tissue. Here, for the first time, the linear and nonlinear optical properties of natural silk fibers have been studied. The waveguiding properties of silk fibroin of largely unprocessed Bombyx mori silkworm silk are assessed using two complementary methods, and found to be on the average 2.8 dB mm-1. The waveguide losses of degummed silk are to a large extent due to scattering from debris on fiber surface and helical twisting of the fiber. Nonlinear optical microscopy reveals both configurational defects such as torsional twisting, and strong symmetry breaking at the center of the fiber, which provides potential for various nonlinear applications. Our results show that nonregenerated B. mori silk can be used for delivering optical power over short distances, when the waveguide needs to be biocompatible and bioresorbable, such as embedding the waveguide inside living tissue.

Optical coherence tomography guided dental drill

DOEpatents

DaSilva, Luiz B.; Colston, Jr., Bill W.; James, Dale L.

2002-01-01

A dental drill that has one or multiple single mode fibers that can be used to image in the vicinity of the drill tip. It is valuable to image below the surface being drilled to minimize damage to vital or normal tissue. Identifying the boundary between decayed and normal enamel (or dentine) would reduce the removal of viable tissue, and identifying the nerve before getting too close with the drill could prevent nerve damage. By surrounding a drill with several optical fibers that can be used by an optical coherence domain reflectometry (OCDR) to image several millimeters ahead of the ablation surface will lead to a new and improved dental treatment device.

Study of surfaces using near infrared optical fiber spectrometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Workman, G. L.; Arendale, W. A.; Hughes, C.

1995-01-01

The measurement and control of cleanliness for critical surfaces during manufacturing and in service provides a unique challenge for fulfillment of environmentally benign operations. Of particular interest has been work performed in maintaining quality in the production of bondline surfaces in propulsion systems and the identification of possible contaminants. This work requires an in-depth study of the possible sources of contamination, methodologies to identify contaminants, discrimination between contaminants and chemical species caused by environment, and the effect of particular contaminants on the bondline integrity of the critical surfaces. This presentation will provide an introduction to the use of optical fiber spectrometry in a nondestructive measurement system for process monitoring and how it can be used to help clarify issues concerning surface chemistry. Correlation of the Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopic results with Optical Stimulated Electron Emission (OSEE) and ellipsometry will also be presented.

Production of fibers by a floating zone fiber drawing technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haggerty, J. S.

1972-01-01

A CO2 laser heated, floating zone fiber growth process was developed. The resulting Al2O3 fibers exhibited the high room temperature strengths for large diameter fibers as well as high specific creep rupture strengths observed at 1093 C and 1316 C (2000 F and 2400 F). Single crystal fibers of TiC and Y2O3 were also grown. An optical system was developed to focus four CO2 laser beams onto the surface of a feed rod permitting the formation of highly controllable molten zones. The optical system permitted energy densities and angle of incidence of the beams to be adjusted over wide ranges. This optical system was incorporated into a controlled atmosphere, fiber growth furnace. The two principal advantages of a CO2 laser heat source are that ambient atmospheres may be freely selected to optimize fiber properties and the laser has no inherent temperature limit, so extremely high melting point materials can be melted. Both advantages were demonstrated.

Screening unlabeled DNA targets with randomly ordered fiber-optic gene arrays.

PubMed

Steemers, F J; Ferguson, J A; Walt, D R

2000-01-01

We have developed a randomly ordered fiber-optic gene array for rapid, parallel detection of unlabeled DNA targets with surface immobilized molecular beacons (MB) that undergo a conformational change accompanied by a fluorescence change in the presence of a complementary DNA target. Microarrays are prepared by randomly distributing MB-functionalized 3-microm diameter microspheres in an array of wells etched in a 500-microm diameter optical imaging fiber. Using several MBs, each designed to recognize a different target, we demonstrate the selective detection of genomic cystic fibrosis related targets. Positional registration and fluorescence response monitoring of the microspheres was performed using an optical encoding scheme and an imaging fluorescence microscope system.

Sensitive zone parameters and curvature radius evaluation for polymer optical fiber curvature sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leal-Junior, Arnaldo G.; Frizera, Anselmo; José Pontes, Maria

2018-03-01

Polymer optical fibers (POFs) are suitable for applications such as curvature sensors, strain, temperature, liquid level, among others. However, for enhancing sensitivity, many polymer optical fiber curvature sensors based on intensity variation require a lateral section. Lateral section length, depth, and surface roughness have great influence on the sensor sensitivity, hysteresis, and linearity. Moreover, the sensor curvature radius increase the stress on the fiber, which leads on variation of the sensor behavior. This paper presents the analysis relating the curvature radius and lateral section length, depth and surface roughness with the sensor sensitivity, hysteresis and linearity for a POF curvature sensor. Results show a strong correlation between the decision parameters behavior and the performance for sensor applications based on intensity variation. Furthermore, there is a trade-off among the sensitive zone length, depth, surface roughness, and curvature radius with the sensor desired performance parameters, which are minimum hysteresis, maximum sensitivity, and maximum linearity. The optimization of these parameters is applied to obtain a sensor with sensitivity of 20.9 mV/°, linearity of 0.9992 and hysteresis below 1%, which represent a better performance of the sensor when compared with the sensor without the optimization.

Optical fiber endface biosensor based on resonances in dielectric waveguide gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wawro, Debra D.; Tibuleac, Sorin; Magnusson, Robert; Liu, Hanli

2000-05-01

A new fiber optic sensor integrating dielectric diffraction gratings and thin films on optical fiber endfaces is prosed for biomedical sensing applications. This device utilizes a resonant dielectric waveguide grating structure fabricated on an optical fiber endface to probe reactions occurring in a sensing layer deposited on its surface. The operation of this sensor is based upon a fundamental resonance effect that occurs in waveguide gratings. An incident broad- spectrum signal is guided within an optical fiber and is filtered to reflect or transmit a desired spectral band by the diffractive thin film structure on its endface. Slight changes in one or more parameters of the waveguide grating, such as refractive index or thickness, can result in a responsive shift of the reflected or transmitted spectral peak that can be detected with spectroscopic instruments. This new sensor concept combines improved sensitivity and accuracy with attractive features found separately in currently available fiber optic sensors, such as large dynamic range, small sensing proximity, real time operation, and remote sensing. Diffractive elements of this type consisting of a photoresist grating on a Si3N4 waveguide have been fabricated on multimode optical fiber endfaces with 100 micrometers cores. Preliminary experimental tests using a tunable Ti:sapphire laser indicate notches of 18 percent in the transmission spectrum of the fiber endface guided-mode resonance devices. A theoretical analysis of the device performance capabilities is presented and applied to evaluate the feasibility and potential advantages of this bioprobe.

Optical characteristics of modified fiber tips in single fiber, laser Doppler flowmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oberg, P. Ake; Cai, Hongming; Rohman, Hakan; Larsson, Sven-Erik

1994-02-01

Percutaneous laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and bipolar surface electromyography (EMG) were used simultaneously for measurement of skeletal muscle (trapezius) perfusion in relation to static load and fatigue. On-line computer (386 SX) processing of the LDF- and EMG- signals made possible interpretation of the relationship between the perfusion and the activity of the muscle. The single fiber laser Doppler technique was used in order to minimize the trauma. A ray-tracing program was developed in the C language by which the optical properties of the fiber and fiber ends could be simulated. Isoirradiance graphs were calculated for three fiber end types and the radiance characteristics were measured for each fiber end. The three types of fiber-tips were evaluated and compared in flow model measurements.

Seismic damage identification for steel structures using distributed fiber optics.

PubMed

Hou, Shuang; Cai, C S; Ou, Jinping

2009-08-01

A distributed fiber optic monitoring methodology based on optic time domain reflectometry technology is developed for seismic damage identification of steel structures. Epoxy with a strength closely associated to a specified structure damage state is used for bonding zigzagged configured optic fibers on the surfaces of the structure. Sensing the local deformation of the structure, the epoxy modulates the signal change within the optic fiber in response to the damage state of the structure. A monotonic loading test is conducted on a steel specimen installed with the proposed sensing system using selected epoxy that will crack at the designated strain level, which indicates the damage of the steel structure. Then, using the selected epoxy, a varying degree of cyclic loading amplitudes, which is associated with different damage states, is applied on a second specimen. The test results show that the specimen's damage can be identified by the optic sensors, and its maximum local deformation can be recorded by the sensing system; moreover, the damage evolution can also be identified.

An optical biosensor using MEMS-based V-grooves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Ye; Ma, Xiaodong; Zou, Xiaotian; Wu, Nan; Wang, Xingwei

2011-05-01

An optical fiber biosensor featuring miniaturization, electromagnetic interference (EMI)-immunity, and flexibility is presented. The sensor was fabricated by aligning two gold-deposited optical single-mode fiber facets inside V-grooves on a silicon chip to form a Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity. The mirrors on the fiber facets were made of deposited gold (Au) films, which provided a high finesse to produce a highly sensitivity. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication techniques were used to precisely control the profile and angle of the V-grooves on the silicon. The biotin-terminated thiol molecule was firstly immobilized on the gold surface. Subsequently, the molecules of Neutravidin were specifically bound to the biotin-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The induced changes of cavity length and refractive index (RI) upon the gold surface lead to an optical path difference (OPD) of the FP cavity, which was detected by demodulating the transmission spectrum phase shift. By taking advantage of MEMS techniques, multiple biosensors can be integrated into one small silicon chip for detecting various biomolecule targets simultaneously.

Fiber optic apparatus for detecting molecular species by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

DOEpatents

Angel, Stanley M.; Sharma, Shiv K.

1988-01-01

Optrode apparatus for detecting constituents of a fluid medium includes an optical fiber (13, 13a to 13e) having a metal coating (22, 22a to 22e) on at least a portion of a light transmissive core (17, 17a to 17d). The metal is one, such as silver, gold or copper, which enhances emission of Raman signal frequencies by molecules adsorbed on the surface of the coating when monochromatic probe light of a different frequency is scattered by such molecules and the metal coating is sufficiently thin to transmit light between the absorbed molecules and the core of the fiber. Probe light is directed into one end of the fiber and a detector (16, 16d, 16e) analyzes light emitted from the fiber for Raman frequencies that identify one or more particular molecular species. In one form, the optrode (13e) may function as a working electrode of an electrochemical cell (53) while also serving to detect the products of oxidation or reduction reactions which occur at the electrode surface.

Fiber optic evanescent wave (FOEW) microbial sensor for dental application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kishen, Anil; John, M. S.; Chen, Jun-Wei; Lim, Chu S.; Hu, Xiao; Asundi, Anand K.

2001-10-01

In this work a new approach based on the fiber Optic Evanescent Wave (FOEW) Spectroscopy is developed for the effective determination of dental caries activity in human saliva. The biosensor design utilized the exponentially decaying wave that extends to the lower index region of the optical fiber's core-cladding interface. In order to achieve this, a short length of the cladding is removed and the fiber core surface is coated with a porous glass medium using sol-gel technique. The acidogenic profile resulting from the Streptococcus mutans activity in the human saliva is monitored using an indicator, which was encapsulated within the porous coating. These investigations display the potential benefits of FOEW based microbial sensor to monitor caries activity in human saliva.

Distributed optical fiber-based monitoring approach of spatial seepage behavior in dike engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Huaizhi; Ou, Bin; Yang, Lifu; Wen, Zhiping

2018-07-01

The failure caused by seepage is the most common one in dike engineering. As to the characteristics of seepage in dike, such as longitudinal extension engineering, the randomness, strong concealment and small initial quantity order, by means of distributed fiber temperature sensor system (DTS), adopting an improved optical fiber layer layout scheme, the location of initial interpolation point of the saturation line is obtained. With the barycentric Lagrange interpolation collocation method (BLICM), the infiltrated surface of dike full-section is generated. Combined with linear optical fiber monitoring seepage method, BLICM is applied in an engineering case, which shows that a real-time seepage monitoring technique is presented in full-section of dike based on the combination method.

Two-Channel SPR Sensor Combined Application of Polymer- and Vitreous-Clad Optic Fibers

PubMed Central

Wei, Yong; Su, Yudong; Liu, Chunlan; Nie, Xiangfei; Liu, Zhihai; Zhang, Yu; Zhang, Yonghui

2017-01-01

By combining a polymer-clad optic fiber and a vitreous-clad optic fiber, we proposed and fabricated a novel optic fiber surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor to conduct two-channel sensing at the same detection area. The traditional optic fiber SPR sensor has many disadvantages; for example, removing the cladding requires corrosion, operating it is dangerous, adjusting the dynamic response range is hard, and producing different resonance wavelengths in the sensing area to realize a multi-channel measurement is difficult. Therefore, in this paper, we skillfully used bare fiber grinding technology and reverse symmetry welding technology to remove the cladding in a multi-mode fiber and expose the evanescent field. On the basis of investigating the effect of the grinding angle on the dynamic range change of the SPR resonance valley wavelength and sensitivity, we combined polymer-clad fiber and vitreous-clad fiber by a smart design structure to realize at a single point a two-channel measurement fiber SPR sensor. In this paper, we obtained a beautiful spectral curve from a multi-mode fiber two-channel SPR sensor. In the detection range of the refractive rate between 1.333 RIU and 1.385 RIU, the resonance valley wavelength of channel Ⅰ shifted from 622 nm to 724 nm with a mean average sensitivity of 1961 nm/RIU and the resonance valley wavelength of channel Ⅱ shifted from 741 nm to 976 nm with a mean average sensitivity of 4519 nm/RIU. PMID:29232841

Two-Channel SPR Sensor Combined Application of Polymer- and Vitreous-Clad Optic Fibers.

PubMed

Wei, Yong; Su, Yudong; Liu, Chunlan; Nie, Xiangfei; Liu, Zhihai; Zhang, Yu; Zhang, Yonghui

2017-12-09

By combining a polymer-clad optic fiber and a vitreous-clad optic fiber, we proposed and fabricated a novel optic fiber surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor to conduct two-channel sensing at the same detection area. The traditional optic fiber SPR sensor has many disadvantages; for example, removing the cladding requires corrosion, operating it is dangerous, adjusting the dynamic response range is hard, and producing different resonance wavelengths in the sensing area to realize a multi-channel measurement is difficult. Therefore, in this paper, we skillfully used bare fiber grinding technology and reverse symmetry welding technology to remove the cladding in a multi-mode fiber and expose the evanescent field. On the basis of investigating the effect of the grinding angle on the dynamic range change of the SPR resonance valley wavelength and sensitivity, we combined polymer-clad fiber and vitreous-clad fiber by a smart design structure to realize at a single point a two-channel measurement fiber SPR sensor. In this paper, we obtained a beautiful spectral curve from a multi-mode fiber two-channel SPR sensor. In the detection range of the refractive rate between 1.333 RIU and 1.385 RIU, the resonance valley wavelength of channel Ⅰ shifted from 622 nm to 724 nm with a mean average sensitivity of 1961 nm/RIU and the resonance valley wavelength of channel Ⅱ shifted from 741 nm to 976 nm with a mean average sensitivity of 4519 nm/RIU.

Fiber optic sensor based on reflectivity configurations to detect heart rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yunianto, M.; Marzuki, A.; Riyatun, R.; Lestari, D.

2016-11-01

Research of optical fiber-based heart rate detection sensor has been conducted using the reflection configurationon the thorax motion modified. Optical fiber used in this research was Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) with a diameter of 0.5. Optical fiber system is made with two pieces of fiber, the first fiber is to serve as a transmitter transmitting light from the source to the reflector membrane, the second fiber serves as a receiver. One of the endsfrom the two fibersis pressed and positioned perpendicular of reflector membrane which is placed on the surface of the chest. The sensor works on the principle of intensity changes captured by the receiver fiber when the reflector membrane gets the vibe from the heart. The light source used is in the form of Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) as a light sensor. Variations are performed on the reflector membrane diameter. The light intensity received by the detector increases along with the increasing width of the reflector membrane diameter. The results show that this sensor can detect the harmonic peak at a frequency of 1.5 Hz; 7.5 Hz; 10.5 Hz; and 22.5 Hz in a healthy human heart with an average value of Beat Per Minute (BPM) by 78 times, a prototype sensor that is made can work and function properly.

Extrinsic fiber optic displacement sensors and displacement sensing systems

DOEpatents

Murphy, K.A.; Gunther, M.F.; Vengsarkar, A.M.; Claus, R.O.

1994-04-05

An extrinsic Fizeau fiber optic sensor comprises a single-mode fiber, used as an input/output fiber, and a multimode fiber, used purely as a reflector, to form an air gap within a silica tube that acts as a Fizeau cavity. The Fresnel reflection from the glass/air interface at the front of the air gap (reference reflection) and the reflection from the air/glass interface at the far end of the air gap (sensing reflection) interfere in the input/output fiber. The two fibers are allowed to move in the silica tube, and changes in the air gap length cause changes in the phase difference between the reference reflection and the sensing reflection. This phase difference is observed as changes in intensity of the light monitored at the output arm of a fused biconical tapered coupler. The extrinsic Fizeau fiber optic sensor behaves identically whether it is surface mounted or embedded, which is unique to the extrinsic sensor in contrast to intrinsic Fabry-Perot sensors. The sensor may be modified to provide a quadrature phase shift extrinsic Fizeau fiber optic sensor for the detection of both the amplitude and the relative polarity of dynamically varying strain. The quadrature light signals may be generated by either mechanical or optical means. A plurality of the extrinsic sensors may connected in cascade and multiplexed to allow monitoring by a single analyzer. 14 figures.

Extrinsic fiber optic displacement sensors and displacement sensing systems

DOEpatents

Murphy, Kent A.; Gunther, Michael F.; Vengsarkar, Ashish M.; Claus, Richard O.

1994-01-01

An extrinsic Fizeau fiber optic sensor comprises a single-mode fiber, used as an input/output fiber, and a multimode fiber, used purely as a reflector, to form an air gap within a silica tube that acts as a Fizeau cavity. The Fresnel reflection from the glass/air interface at the front of the air gap (reference reflection) and the reflection from the air/glass interface at the far end of the air gap (sensing reflection) interfere in the input/output fiber. The two fibers are allowed to move in the silica tube, and changes in the air gap length cause changes in the phase difference between the reference reflection and the sensing reflection. This phase difference is observed as changes in intensity of the light monitored at the output arm of a fused biconical tapered coupler. The extrinsic Fizeau fiber optic sensor behaves identically whether it is surface mounted or embedded, which is unique to the extrinsic sensor in contrast to intrinsic Fabry-Perot sensors. The sensor may be modified to provide a quadrature phase shift extrinsic Fizeau fiber optic sensor for the detection of both the amplitude and the relative polarity of dynamically varying strain. The quadrature light signals may be generated by either mechanical or optical means. A plurality of the extrinsic sensors may connected in cascade and multiplexed to allow monitoring by a single analyzer.

Detection of Hydrofluoric Acid by a SiO2 Sol-Gel Coating Fiber-Optic Probe Based on Reflection-Based Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance

PubMed Central

Chen, I-Cherng; Lin, Shiu-Shiung; Lin, Tsao-Jen; Du, Je-Kang

2011-01-01

A novel fiber-optic probe based on reflection-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) was developed to quantify the concentration of hydrofluoric acid (HF) in aqueous solutions. The LSPR sensor was constructed with a gold nanoparticle-modified PMMA fiber, integrated with a SiO2 sol-gel coating. This fiber-sensor was utilized to assess the relationship between HF concentration and SiO2 sol-gel layer etching reduction. The results demonstrated the LSPR sensor was capable of detecting HF-related erosion of hydrofluoric acid solutions of concentrations ranging from 1% to 5% using Relative RI Change Rates. The development of the LSPR sensor constitutes the basis of a detector with significant sensitivity for practical use in monitoring HF solution concentrations. PMID:22319388

Fiber-Optic SPR Immunosensors Tailored To Target Epithelial Cells through Membrane Receptors.

PubMed

Malachovská, Viera; Ribaut, Clotilde; Voisin, Valérie; Surin, Mathieu; Leclère, Philippe; Wattiez, Ruddy; Caucheteur, Christophe

2015-06-16

We report, for the first time, the use of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) fiber-optic immunosensor for selective cellular detection through membrane protein targeting. The sensor architecture lies on gold-coated tilted fiber Bragg gratings (Au-coated TFBGs) photoimprinted in the fiber core via a laser technique. TFBGs operate in the near-infrared wavelength range at ∼1550 nm, yielding optical and SPR sensing characteristics that are advantageous for the analyses of cellular bindings and technical compatibility with relatively low-cost telecommunication-grade measurement devices. In this work, we take consider their numerous assets to figure out their ability to selectively detect intact epithelial cells as analytes in cell suspensions in the range of 2-5 × 10(6) cells mL(-1). For this, the probe was first thermally annealed to ensure a strong adhesion of the metallic coating to the fiber surface. Its surface was then functionalized with specific monoclonal antibodies via alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) against extracellular domain of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) and characterized by peak force tapping atomic force microscopy. A differential diagnosis has been demonstrated between two model systems. The developed immunosensors were able to monitor, in real time, the specific attachment of single intact cells in concentrations from 3 × 10(6) cells mL(-1). Such results confirm that the developed probe fits the lab-on-fiber technology and has the potential to be used as a disposable device for in situ and real-time clinical diagnosis.

Window flaw detection by backscatter lighting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crockett, L. K.; Minton, F. R.

1978-01-01

Portable fiber-optic probe detects tiny flaws in transparent materials. Probe transmits light through surface to illuminate interior of material by backscattering off its edges. Light-sensitive contact paper records scratch pattern. Technique can be used for rapid visual checks. Flexible fiber optics are safely used in explosive or flammable areas; they present no hazard of breakage or contamination in controlled environments.

Sensing surface morphology of biofibers by decorating spider silk and cellulosic filaments with nematic microdroplets.

PubMed

Aguirre, Luis E; de Oliveira, Alexandre; Seč, David; Čopar, Simon; Almeida, Pedro L; Ravnik, Miha; Godinho, Maria Helena; Žumer, Slobodan

2016-02-02

Probing the surface morphology of microthin fibers such as naturally occurring biofibers is essential for understanding their structural properties, biological function, and mechanical performance. The state-of-the-art methods for studying the surfaces of biofibers are atomic force microscopy imaging and scanning electron microscopy, which well characterize surface geometry of the fibers but provide little information on the local interaction potential of the fibers with the surrounding material. In contrast, complex nematic fluids respond very well to external fields and change their optical properties upon such stimuli. Here we demonstrate that liquid crystal droplets deposited on microthin biofibers--including spider silk and cellulosic fibers--reveal characteristics of the fibers' surface, performing as simple but sensitive surface sensors. By combining experiments and numerical modeling, different types of fibers are identified through the fiber-to-nematic droplet interactions, including perpendicular and axial or helicoidal planar molecular alignment. Spider silks align nematic molecules parallel to fibers or perpendicular to them, whereas cellulose aligns the molecules unidirectionally or helicoidally along the fibers, indicating notably different surface interactions. The nematic droplets as sensors thus directly reveal chirality of cellulosic fibers. Different fiber entanglements can be identified by depositing droplets exactly at the fiber crossings. More generally, the presented method can be used as a simple but powerful approach for probing the surface properties of small-size bioobjects, opening a route to their precise characterization.

Experimental strain modal analysis for beam-like structure by using distributed fiber optics and its damage detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Liangliang; Busca, Giorgio; Cigada, Alfredo

2017-07-01

Modal analysis is commonly considered as an effective tool to obtain the intrinsic characteristics of structures including natural frequencies, modal damping ratios, and mode shapes, which are significant indicators for monitoring the health status of engineering structures. The complex mode indicator function (CMIF) can be regarded as an effective numerical tool to perform modal analysis. In this paper, experimental strain modal analysis based on the CMIF has been introduced. Moreover, a distributed fiber-optic sensor, as a dense measuring device, has been applied to acquire strain data along a beam surface. Thanks to the dense spatial resolution of the distributed fiber optics, more detailed mode shapes could be obtained. In order to test the effectiveness of the method, a mass lump—considered as a linear damage component—has been attached to the surface of the beam, and damage detection based on strain mode shape has been carried out. The results manifest that strain modal parameters can be estimated effectively by utilizing the CMIF based on the corresponding simulations and experiments. Furthermore, damage detection based on strain mode shapes benefits from the accuracy of strain mode shape recognition and the excellent performance of the distributed fiber optics.

Highly sensitive detection of molecular interactions with plasmonic optical fiber grating sensors.

PubMed

Voisin, Valérie; Pilate, Julie; Damman, Pascal; Mégret, Patrice; Caucheteur, Christophe

2014-01-15

Surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) optical fiber biosensors constitute a miniaturized counterpart to the bulky prism configuration and offer remote operation in very small volumes of analyte. They are a cost-effective and relatively straightforward technique to yield in situ (or even possibly in vivo) molecular detection. The biosensor configuration reported in this work uses nanometric-scale gold-coated tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs) interrogated by light polarized radially to the optical fiber outer surface, so as to maximize the optical coupling with the SPR. These gratings were recently associated to aptamers to assess their label-free biorecognition capability in buffer and serum solutions. In this work, using the well-acknowledged biotin-streptavidin pair as a benchmark, we go forward in the demonstration of their unique sensitivity. In addition to the monitoring of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) in real time, we report an unprecedented limit of detection (LOD) as low as 2 pM. Finally, an immunosensing experiment is realized with human transferrin (dissociation constant Kd~10(-8) M(-1)). It allows to assess both the reversibility and the robustness of the SPR-TFBG biosensors and to confirm their high sensitivity. © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.

On-line defect detection of aluminum coating using fiber optic sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patil, Supriya S.; Shaligram, A. D.

2015-03-01

Aluminum metallization using the sprayed coating for exhaust mild steel (MS) pipes of tractors is a standard practice for avoiding rusting. Patches of thin metal coats are prone to rusting and are thus considered as defects in the surface coating. This paper reports a novel configuration of the fiber optic sensor for on-line checking the aluminum metallization uniformity and hence for defect detection. An optimally chosen high bright 440 nm BLUE LED (light-emitting diode) launches light into a transmitting fiber inclined at the angle of 60° to the surface under inspection placed adequately. The reflected light is transported by a receiving fiber to a blue enhanced photo detector. The metallization thickness on the coated surface results in visually observable variation in the gray shades. The coated pipe is spirally inspected by a combination of linear and rotary motions. The sensor output is the signal conditioned and monitored with RISHUBH DAS. Experimental results show the good repeatability in the defect detection and coating non-uniformity measurement.

Fiber Optic Thermographic Detection of Flaws in Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Meng-Chou; Winfree, William P.

2009-01-01

Optical fibers with multiple Bragg gratings bonded to surfaces of structures were used for thermographic detection of subsurface defects in structures. The investigated structures included a 10-ply composite specimen with subsurface delaminations of various sizes and depths. Both during and following the application of a thermal heat flux to the surface, the individual Bragg grating sensors measured the temporal and spatial temperature variations. The obtained data were analyzed with thermal modeling to reveal particular characteristics of the interested areas. These results were found to be consistent with the simulation results.

The detection of organophosphonates by polymer films on a surface acoustic wave device and a micromirror fiber optic sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hughes, R.C.; Ricco, A.J.; Butler, M.A.

There is a need for sensitive detection of organophosphonates by, inexpensive, portable instruments. Two kinds of chemical sensors, based on surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices and fiber optic micromirrors, show promise for such sensing systems. Chemically sensitive coatings are required for detection and data for thin films of the polymer polysiloxane are reported for both kinds of physical transducers. Both kinds of sensor are shown to be capable of detecting concentrations of diisopropylmethylphosphonate (DIMP) down to 1 ppM.

Tribological properties of glass fiber filled polytetrafluoroethylene sliding against stainless steel under dry and aqueous environments: enhanced tribological performance in sea water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jebran Khan, Mohammad; Wani, M. F.; Gupta, Rajat

2018-05-01

The present study aims at investigating the tribological behavior of glass fiber filled PTFE on sliding against AISI 420 stainless steel in ambient air, distilled water and natural sea water. The friction and wear tests were carried out using a pin-on-disc configuration at room temperature on 25 wt% glass fiber filled PTFE at a normal load of 10 N. The glass fiber filled PTFE showed superior tribological performance in sea water compared to dry sliding and distilled water environment conditions. The lowest average coefficient of friction of 0.028 and lowest specific wear rate of 5.85 × 10‑6 mm3 Nm‑1 was observed under sea water environment. The worn surfaces were examined using Optical microscopy, SEM, EDS and Raman spectroscopy to reveal the wear mechanisms. It was revealed that the superior tribological performance of glass fiber filled PTFE in sea water is due to the formation of a lubricating film on the surface of glass fiber filled PTFE in sea water. The profilometric traces of the counterface after tribological tests were taken using an optical 3D surface profilometer to investigate the effect of indirect corrosive wear on the friction and wear of glass fiber filled PTFE under sea water environment.

Controlled chemical modification of the internal surface of photonic crystal fibers for application as biosensitive elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pidenko, Sergey A.; Burmistrova, Natalia A.; Pidenko, Pavel S.; Shuvalov, Andrey A.; Chibrova, Anastasiya A.; Skibina, Yulia S.; Goryacheva, Irina Y.

2016-10-01

Photonic crystal fibers (PCF) are one of the most promising materials for creation of constructive elements for bio-, drug and contaminant sensing based on unique optical properties of the PCF as effective nanosized optical signal collectors. In order to provide efficient and controllable binding of biomolecules, the internal surface of glass hollow core photonic crystal fibers (HC-PCF) has been chemically modified with silanol groups and functionalized with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). The shift of local maxima in the HC-PCF transmission spectrum has been selected as a signal for estimating the amount of silanol groups on the HC-PCF inner surface. The relationship between amount of silanol groups on the HC-PCF inner surface and efficiency of following APTES functionalization has been evaluated. Covalent binding of horseradish peroxidase (chosen as a model protein) on functionalized PCF inner surface has been performed successively, thus verifying the possibility of creating a biosensitive element.

Fiber optics structural mechanics and nanotechnology based new generation of fiber coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suhir, E.

2006-02-01

This paper consists of two parts - review and extension. The review part deals with typical fiber optics structures (bare, single- and dual-coated fibers; fibers experiencing low temperature micro-bending; fibers soldered into ferrules or adhesively bonded into capillaries; role of the non-linear stress-strain relationship, etc.) subjected to thermally induced and/or mechanical loading in bending, tension, compression, or to various combinations of such loadings. The emphasis is on the state-of-the-art in the area of optical fiber coatings and the functional (optical), mechanical and environmental problems that occur in polymer-coated or metallized fibers. The solutions to the examined problems are obtained using analytical methods (predictive models) of structural mechanics. The review is based primarily on the author's research conducted at Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ, during his eighteen years tenure with this company. The extension part addresses a new generation of optical fiber coatings and deals with the application of a newly developed (by the ERS/Siloptix Co.) nano-particle material (NPM) that is used as an attractive substitute for the existing optical fiber coatings. This NPM-based coating has all the merits of polymer and metal coatings, but is free of their shortcomings. The developed material is an unconventional inhomogeneous "smart" composite material, which is equivalent to a homogeneous material with the following major properties: low Young's modulus, immunity to corrosion, good-to-excellent adhesion to adjacent material(s), non-volatile, stable properties at temperature extremes (from -220°C to +350°C), very long (practically infinite) lifetime, "active" hydrophobicity - the material provides a moisture barrier (to both water and water vapor), and, if necessary, can even "wick" moisture away from the contact surface; ability for "self-healing" and "healing": the NPM is able to restore its own dimensions, when damaged, and is able to fill existing or developed defects (cracks and other "imperfections") in contacted surfaces; very low (near unity) effective refractive index (if needed). NPM can be designed, depending on the application, to enhance those properties most important. NPM properties have been confirmed through testing. The tests have demonstrated the outstanding mechanical reliability, extraordinary environmental durability and, in particular applications, improved optical performance of the light guide.

Analytic solution for quasi-Lambertian radiation transfer.

PubMed

Braun, Avi; Gordon, Jeffrey M

2010-02-10

An analytic solution is derived for radiation transfer between flat quasi-Lambertian surfaces of arbitrary orientation, i.e., surfaces that radiate in a Lambertian fashion but within a numerical aperture smaller than unity. These formulas obviate the need for ray trace simulations and provide exact, physically transparent results. Illustrative examples that capture the salient features of the flux maps and the efficiency of flux transfer are presented for a few configurations of practical interest. There is also a fundamental reciprocity relation for quasi-Lambertian exchange, akin to the reciprocity theorem for fully Lambertian surfaces. Applications include optical fiber coupling, fiber-optic biomedical procedures, and solar concentrators.

Functionalization of optical nanotip arrays with an electrochemical microcantilever for multiplexed DNA detection.

PubMed

Descamps, Emeline; Duroure, Nathalie; Deiss, Frédérique; Leichlé, Thierry; Adam, Catherine; Mailley, Pascal; Aït-Ikhlef, Ali; Livache, Thierry; Nicu, Liviu; Sojic, Neso

2013-08-07

Optical nanotip arrays fabricated on etched fiber bundles were functionalized with DNA spots. Such unconventional substrates (3D and non-planar) are difficult to pattern with standard microfabrication techniques but, using an electrochemical cantilever, up to 400 spots were electrodeposited on the nanostructured optical surface in 5 min. This approach allows each spot to be addressed individually and multiplexed fluorescence detection is demonstrated. Finally, remote fluorescence detection was performed by imaging through the optical fiber bundle itself after hybridisation with the complementary sequence.

Dynamic illumination of spatially restricted or large brain volumes via a single tapered optical fiber

PubMed Central

Pisanello, Marco; Oldenburg, Ian A.; Sileo, Leonardo; Markowitz, Jeffrey E.; Peterson, Ralph E.; Della Patria, Andrea; Haynes, Trevor M.; Emara, Mohamed S.; Spagnolo, Barbara; Datta, Sandeep Robert; De Vittorio, Massimo; Sabatini, Bernardo L.

2017-01-01

Optogenetics promises spatiotemporal precise control of neural processes using light. However, the spatial extent of illumination within the brain is difficult to control and cannot be adjusted using standard fiber optics. We demonstrate that optical fibers with tapered tips can be used to illuminate either spatially restricted or large brain volumes. Remotely adjusting the light input angle to the fiber varies the light-emitting portion of the taper over several millimeters without movement of the implant. We use this mode to activate dorsal versus ventral striatum of individual mice and reveal different effects of each manipulation on motor behavior. Conversely, injecting light over the full numerical aperture of the fiber results in light emission from the entire taper surface, achieving broader and more efficient optogenetic activation of neurons when compared to the standard flat-faced fiber stimulation. Thus, tapered fibers permit focal or broad illumination that can be precisely and dynamically matched to experimental needs. PMID:28628101

Dynamic illumination of spatially restricted or large brain volumes via a single tapered optical fiber.

PubMed

Pisanello, Ferruccio; Mandelbaum, Gil; Pisanello, Marco; Oldenburg, Ian A; Sileo, Leonardo; Markowitz, Jeffrey E; Peterson, Ralph E; Della Patria, Andrea; Haynes, Trevor M; Emara, Mohamed S; Spagnolo, Barbara; Datta, Sandeep Robert; De Vittorio, Massimo; Sabatini, Bernardo L

2017-08-01

Optogenetics promises precise spatiotemporal control of neural processes using light. However, the spatial extent of illumination within the brain is difficult to control and cannot be adjusted using standard fiber optics. We demonstrate that optical fibers with tapered tips can be used to illuminate either spatially restricted or large brain volumes. Remotely adjusting the light input angle to the fiber varies the light-emitting portion of the taper over several millimeters without movement of the implant. We use this mode to activate dorsal versus ventral striatum of individual mice and reveal different effects of each manipulation on motor behavior. Conversely, injecting light over the full numerical aperture of the fiber results in light emission from the entire taper surface, achieving broader and more efficient optogenetic activation of neurons, compared to standard flat-faced fiber stimulation. Thus, tapered fibers permit focal or broad illumination that can be precisely and dynamically matched to experimental needs.

Atomic force microscopy of orb-spider-web-silks to measure surface nanostructuring and evaluate silk fibers per strand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kane, D. M.; Naidoo, N.; Staib, G. R.

2010-10-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) study is used to measure the surface topology and roughness of radial and capture spider silks on the micro- and nanoscale. This is done for silks of the orb weaver spider Argiope keyserlingi. Capture silk has a surface roughness that is five times less than that for radial silk. The capture silk has an equivalent flatness of λ /100 (5-6 nm deep surface features) as an optical surface. This is equivalent to a very highly polished optical surface. AFM does show the number of silk fibers that make up a silk thread but geometric distortion occurs during sample preparation. This prevented AFM from accurately measuring the silk topology on the microscale in this study.

Fiber optic reference frequency distribution to remote beam waveguide antennas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calhoun, Malcolm; Kuhnle, Paul; Law, Julius

1995-01-01

In the NASA/JPL Deep Space Network (DSN), radio science experiments (probing outer planet atmospheres, rings, gravitational waves, etc.) and very long-base interferometry (VLBI) require ultra-stable, low phase noise reference frequency signals at the user locations. Typical locations for radio science/VLBI exciters and down-converters are the cone areas of the 34 m high efficiency antennas or the 70 m antennas, located several hundred meters from the reference frequency standards. Over the past three years, fiber optic distribution links have replaced coaxial cable distribution for reference frequencies to these antenna sites. Optical fibers are the preferred medium for distribution because of their low attenuation, immunity to EMI/IWI, and temperature stability. A new network of Beam Waveguide (BWG) antennas presently under construction in the DSN requires hydrogen maser stability at tens of kilometers distance from the frequency standards central location. The topic of this paper is the design and implementation of an optical fiber distribution link which provides ultra-stable reference frequencies to users at a remote BWG antenna. The temperature profile from the earth's surface to a depth of six feet over a time period of six months was used to optimize the placement of the fiber optic cables. In-situ evaluation of the fiber optic link performance indicates Allan deviation on the order of parts in 10(exp -15) at 1000 and 10,000 seconds averaging time; thus, the link stability degradation due to environmental conditions still preserves hydrogen maser stability at the user locations. This paper reports on the implementation of optical fibers and electro-optic devices for distributing very stable, low phase noise reference signals to remote BWG antenna locations. Allan deviation and phase noise test results for a 16 km fiber optic distribution link are presented in the paper.

Fiber optic reference frequency distribution to remote beam waveguide antennas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calhoun, Malcolm; Kuhnle, Paul; Law, Julius

1995-05-01

In the NASA/JPL Deep Space Network (DSN), radio science experiments (probing outer planet atmospheres, rings, gravitational waves, etc.) and very long-base interferometry (VLBI) require ultra-stable, low phase noise reference frequency signals at the user locations. Typical locations for radio science/VLBI exciters and down-converters are the cone areas of the 34 m high efficiency antennas or the 70 m antennas, located several hundred meters from the reference frequency standards. Over the past three years, fiber optic distribution links have replaced coaxial cable distribution for reference frequencies to these antenna sites. Optical fibers are the preferred medium for distribution because of their low attenuation, immunity to EMI/IWI, and temperature stability. A new network of Beam Waveguide (BWG) antennas presently under construction in the DSN requires hydrogen maser stability at tens of kilometers distance from the frequency standards central location. The topic of this paper is the design and implementation of an optical fiber distribution link which provides ultra-stable reference frequencies to users at a remote BWG antenna. The temperature profile from the earth's surface to a depth of six feet over a time period of six months was used to optimize the placement of the fiber optic cables. In-situ evaluation of the fiber optic link performance indicates Allan deviation on the order of parts in 10(exp -15) at 1000 and 10,000 seconds averaging time; thus, the link stability degradation due to environmental conditions still preserves hydrogen maser stability at the user locations. This paper reports on the implementation of optical fibers and electro-optic devices for distributing very stable, low phase noise reference signals to remote BWG antenna locations. Allan deviation and phase noise test results for a 16 km fiber optic distribution link are presented in the paper.

Bi-Tapered Fiber Sensor Using a Supercontinuum Light Source for a Broad Spectral Range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia Mina, Diego Felipe

We describe the fabrication bi-tapered optical fiber sensors designed for shorter wavelength operation and we study their optical properties. The new sensing system designed and built for the project is a specialty optical fiber that is single-mode in the visible/near infrared wavelength region of interest. In fabricating the tapered fiber we control the taper parameters, such as the down-taper and up-taper rate, shape and length, and the fiber waist diameter and length. The sensing is mode is via the electromagnetic field, which is evanescent outside the optical fiber and is confined close to the fiber's surface (within a couple hundred nanometers). The fiber sensor system has multiple advantages as a compact, simple device with an ability to detected tiny changes in the refractive index. We developed a supercontinuum light source to provide a wide spectral wavelength range from visible to near IR. The source design was based on coupling light from a femtosecond laser in a photonic crystal fiber designed for high nonlinearity. The output light was efficiently coupled into the bi-tapered fiber sensor and good signal to noise was achieved across the wavelength region. The bi-tapered fiber starts and ends with a single mode fiber in the waist region there are many modes with different propagation constants that couple to the environment outside the fiber. The signals have a strong periodic component as the wavelength is scanned; we exploit the periodicity in the signal using a discrete Fourier transform analysis to correlate signal phase changes with the refractive index changes in the local environment. For small index changes we also measure a strong correlation with the dominant Fourier amplitude component. Our experiments show that our phase-based signal processing technique works well at shorter wavelengths and we extract a new feature, the Fourier amplitude, to measure the refractive index difference. We conducted experiments using aqueous medium with controlled refractive index, such as water-glycerol mixtures. We find sensitivity to changes in the refractive index close to 0.00002 in so-called Refractive Index Units (RIUs). That is smaller than reported in recent literature, but by no means a limiting value. The technique is not limited to aqueous solutions surrounding the fiber, but it can also be adapted to study volatile organic compounds. Future improvements in the fiber sensing system are discussed, including adding thin films to the surface for label-free detection and to draw the electromagnetic field to the fiber's surface.

Highly sensitive evanescent wave combination tapered fiber optic fluorosensor for protein detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nardone, Vincent; Kapoor, Rakesh

2008-02-01

In this paper we are reporting the development of a highly sensitive evanescent wave combination tapered fiber optic fluorosensor. We have demonstrated detection of 5 pM Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) protein using these fiber optic sensors. The sensor can be easily adopted for detection of other proteins. Six identical probes were prepared and affinity pure Goat anti-BSA antibodies were immobilized on the probe surface. We could detect signal from all the probes kept in 5 pM to 1 nM BSA solution while no signal was detected from the probes kept in 20 nM labeled ESA solution.

Free-standing membrane polymer laser on the end of an optical fiber

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhai, Tianrui, E-mail: trzhai@bjut.edu.cn, E-mail: zhangxinping@bjut.edu.cn; Li, Songtao; Hu, Yujie

2016-01-25

One- and two-dimensional distributed feedback cavities were constructed on free-standing polymer membranes using spin-coating and lift-off techniques. Low threshold lasing was generated through feedback amplification when the 290-nm membrane device was optically pumped, which was attributed to the strong confinement mechanism provided by the active waveguide layer without a substrate. The free-standing membrane polymer laser is flexible and can be transplanted. Single- and dual-wavelength fiber lasers were achieved by directly attaching the membrane polymer laser on the optical fiber end face. This technique provides potential to fabricate polymer lasers on surfaces with arbitrary shapes.

Investigation of the spatial distribution of second-order nonlinearity in thermally poled optical fibers.

PubMed

An, Honglin; Fleming, Simon

2005-05-02

The spatial distribution of second-order nonlinearity in thermally poled optical fibers was characterized by second-harmonic microscopy. The second-order nonlinearity was found to be confined to a thin layer close to the anode surface and progressed further into the silica as the poling time increased. Position uncertainty of the anode metal wire was observed to have an effect, as the nonlinear layers were found not always symmetrically located around the nearest points between the anode and cathode. Optical microscopy results were obtained on etched poled fiber cross-sections and compared with those from second-harmonic microscopy.

Toward a compact fibered squeezing parametric source.

PubMed

Brieussel, Alexandre; Ott, Konstantin; Joos, Maxime; Treps, Nicolas; Fabre, Claude

2018-03-15

In this work, we investigate three different compact fibered systems generating vacuum squeezing that involve optical cavities limited by the end surface of a fiber and by a curved mirror and containing a thin parametric crystal. These systems have the advantage to couple squeezed states directly to a fiber, allowing the user to benefit from the flexibility of fibers in the use of squeezing. Three types of fibers are investigated: standard single-mode fibers, photonic-crystal large-mode-area single-mode fibers, and short multimode fibers taped to a single-mode fiber. The observed squeezing is modest (-0.56  dB, -0.9  dB, -1  dB), but these experiments open the way for miniaturized squeezing devices that could be a very interesting advantage in scaling up quantum systems for quantum processing, opening new perspectives in the domain of integrated quantum optics.

Surface characterization of carbon fiber polymer composites and aluminum alloys after laser interference structuring

DOE PAGES

Sabau, Adrian S.; Greer, Clayton M.; Chen, Jian; ...

2016-05-03

Here, the increasing use of Carbon Fiber-reinforced Polymer matrix Composites (CFPC) and aluminum alloys as lightweight materials in the automotive and aerospace industries demands enhanced surface preparation and control of surface morphology prior to joining. In this study, surfaces of both composite and aluminum were prepared for joining using an Nd:YAG laser in a two-beam interference setup, enabling the (a) structuring of the AL 5182 surface, (b) removal of the resin layer on top of carbon fibers, and (c) structuring of the carbon fibers. CFPC specimens of T700S carbon fiber, Prepreg - T8 3 epoxy, 5 ply thick, 0/90o plaquesmore » were used. The effect of laser fluence, scanning speed, and number of shots-per-spot was investigated on the removal rate of the resin without an excessive damage of the fibers. Optical micrographs, 3D imaging, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging were used to study the effect of the laser processing on surface morphology.« less

Validity of the semi-infinite tumor model in diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for epithelial cancer diagnosis: a Monte Carlo study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Caigang; Liu, Quan

2011-08-01

The accurate understanding of optical properties of human tissues plays an important role in the optical diagnosis of early epithelial cancer. Many inverse models used to determine the optical properties of a tumor have assumed that the tumor was semi-infinite, which infers infinite width and length but finite thickness. However, this simplified assumption could lead to large errors for small tumor, especially at the early stages. We used a modified Monte Carlo code, which is able to simulate light transport in a layered tissue model with buried tumor-like targets, to investigate the validity of the semi-infinite tumor assumption in two common epithelial tissue models: a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tissue model and a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tissue model. The SCC tissue model consisted of three layers, i.e. the top epithelium, the middle tumor and the bottom stroma. The BCC tissue model also consisted of three layers, i.e. the top epidermis, the middle tumor and the bottom dermis. Diffuse reflectance was simulated for two common fiber-optic probes. In one probe, both source and detector fibers were perpendicular to the tissue surface; while in the other, both fibers were tilted at 45 degrees relative to the normal axis of the tissue surface. It was demonstrated that the validity of the semi-infinite tumor model depends on both the fiber-optic probe configuration and the tumor dimensions. Two look-up tables, which relate the validity of the semi-infinite tumor model to the tumor width in terms of the source-detector separation, were derived to guide the selection of appropriate tumor models and fiber optic probe configuration for the optical diagnosis of early epithelial cancers.

Subsidence from an artificial permafrost warming experiment.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gelvin, A.; Wagner, A. M.; Lindsey, N.; Dou, S.; Martin, E. R.; Ekblaw, I.; Ulrich, C.; James, S. R.; Freifeld, B. M.; Daley, T. M.; Saari, S.; Ajo Franklin, J. B.

2017-12-01

Using fiber optic sensing technologies (seismic, strain, and temperature) we installed a geophysical detection system to predict thaw subsidence in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. Approximately 5 km of fiber optic was buried in shallow trenches (20 cm depth), in an area with discontinuous permafrost, where the top of the permafrost is approximately 4 - 4.5m below the surface. The thaw subsidence was enforced by 122 60-Watt vertical heaters installed over a 140 m2 area where seismic, strain, and temperature were continuously monitored throughout the length of the fiber. Several vertical thermistor strings were also recording ground temperatures to a depth of 10 m in parallel to the fiber optic to verify the measurements collected from the fiber optic cable. GPS, Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) Traditional and LiDAR (Light and Detection and Ranging) scanning were used to investigate the surface subsidence. The heaters were operating for approximately a three month period starting in August, 2016. During the heating process the soil temperatures at the heater element increased from 3.5 to 45 °C at a depth of 3 - 4 m. It took approximately 7 months for the temperature at the heater elements to recover to their initial temperature. The depth to the permafrost table was deepened by about 1 m during the heating process. By the end of the active heating, the surface had subsided approximately 8 cm in the heating section where permafrost was closest to the surface. This was conclusively confirmed with GPS, EDM, and LiDAR. An additional LiDAR survey was performed about seven months after the heaters were turned off (in May 2017). A total subsidence of approximately 20 cm was measured by the end of the passive heating process. This project successfully demonstrates that this is a viable approach for simulating both deep permafrost thaw and the resulting surface subsidence.

Based on optical fiber Michelson interferometer for acoustic emission detection experimental research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Yijun; Qu, Dandan; Deng, Hu

2013-08-01

A type of Michelson interferometer with two optical fiber loop reflectors acoustic emission sensor is proposed in the article to detect the vibrations produced by ultrasonic waves propagating in a solid body. Two optical fiber loop reflectors are equivalent to the sensing arm and the reference arm instead of traditional Michelson interferometer end reflecter Theoretical analyses indicate that the sensitivity of the system has been remarkably increased because of the decrease of the losses of light energy. The best operating point of optical fiber sensor is fixed by theoretical derivation and simulation of computer, and the signal frequency which is detected by the sensor is the frequency of input signal. PZT (Piezoelectric Ceramic) is powered by signal generator as known ultrasonic source, The Polarization controller is used to make the reflected light interference，The fiber length is changed by adjusting the DC voltage on the PZT with the fiber loop to make the sensor system response that ΔΦ is closed to π/2. the signal basis frequency detected by the sensor is the frequency of the input signal. Then impacts the surface of the marble slab with home-made mechanical acoustic emission source. And detect it. and then the frequency characteristic of acoustic emission signal is obtained by Fourier technique. The experimental results indicate that the system can identify the frequency characteristic of acoustic emission signal, and it can be also used to detect the surface feeble vibration which is generated by ultrasonic waves propagating in material structure.

High-power fused assemblies enabled by advances in fiber-processing technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiley, Robert; Clark, Brett

2011-02-01

The power handling capabilities of fiber lasers are limited by the technologies available to fabricate and assemble the key optical system components. Previous tools for the assembly, tapering, and fusion of fiber laser elements have had drawbacks with regard to temperature range, alignment capability, assembly flexibility and surface contamination. To provide expanded capabilities for fiber laser assembly, a wide-area electrical plasma heat source was used in conjunction with an optimized image analysis method and a flexible alignment system, integrated according to mechatronic principles. High-resolution imaging and vision-based measurement provided feedback to adjust assembly, fusion, and tapering process parameters. The system was used to perform assembly steps including dissimilar-fiber splicing, tapering, bundling, capillary bundling, and fusion of fibers to bulk optic devices up to several mm in diameter. A wide range of fiber types and diameters were tested, including extremely large diameters and photonic crystal fibers. The assemblies were evaluated for conformation to optical and mechanical design criteria, such as taper geometry and splice loss. The completed assemblies met the performance targets and exhibited reduced surface contamination compared to assemblies prepared on previously existing equipment. The imaging system and image analysis algorithms provided in situ fiber geometry measurement data that agreed well with external measurement. The ability to adjust operating parameters dynamically based on imaging was shown to provide substantial performance benefits, particularly in the tapering of fibers and bundles. The integrated design approach was shown to provide sufficient flexibility to perform all required operations with a minimum of reconfiguration.

Parallel Information Processing (Image Transmission Via Fiber Bundle and Multimode Fiber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kukhtarev, Nicholai

2003-01-01

Growing demand for visual, user-friendly representation of information inspires search for the new methods of image transmission. Currently used in-series (sequential) methods of information processing are inherently slow and are designed mainly for transmission of one or two dimensional arrays of data. Conventional transmission of data by fibers requires many fibers with array of laser diodes and photodetectors. In practice, fiber bundles are also used for transmission of images. Image is formed on the fiber-optic bundle entrance surface and each fiber transmits the incident image to the exit surface. Since the fibers do not preserve phase, only 2D intensity distribution can be transmitted in this way. Each single mode fiber transmit only one pixel of an image. Multimode fibers may be also used, so that each mode represent different pixel element. Direct transmission of image through multimode fiber is hindered by the mode scrambling and phase randomization. To overcome these obstacles wavelength and time-division multiplexing have been used, with each pixel transmitted on a separate wavelength or time interval. Phase-conjugate techniques also was tested in, but only in the unpractical scheme when reconstructed image return back to the fiber input end. Another method of three-dimensional imaging over single mode fibers was demonstrated in, using laser light of reduced spatial coherence. Coherence encoding, needed for a transmission of images by this methods, was realized with grating interferometer or with the help of an acousto-optic deflector. We suggest simple practical holographic method of image transmission over single multimode fiber or over fiber bundle with coherent light using filtering by holographic optical elements. Originally this method was successfully tested for the single multimode fiber. In this research we have modified holographic method for transmission of laser illuminated images over commercially available fiber bundle (fiber endoscope, or fiberscope).

A novel optical fiber displacement sensor of wider measurement range based on neural network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Yuan; Dai, Xue Feng; Wang, Yu Tian

2006-02-01

By studying on the output characteristics of random type optical fiber sensor and semicircular type optical fiber sensor, the ratio of the two output signals was used as the output signal of the whole system. Then the measurement range was enlarged, the linearity was improved, and the errors of reflective and absorbent changing of target surface are automatically compensated. Meantime, an optical fiber sensor model of correcting static error based on BP artificial neural network(ANN) is set up. So the intrinsic errors such as effects of fluctuations in the light, circuit excursion, the intensity losses in the fiber lines and the additional losses in the receiving fiber caused by bends are eliminated. By discussing in theory and experiment, the error of nonlinear is 2.9%, the measuring range reaches to 5-6mm and the relative accuracy is 2%.And this sensor has such characteristics as no electromagnetic interference, simple construction, high sensitivity, good accuracy and stability. Also the multi-point sensor system can be used to on-line and non-touch monitor in working locales.

Fiber optic signal amplifier using thermoelectric power generation

DOEpatents

Hart, M.M.

1993-01-01

A remote fiber optic signal amplifier for use as a repeater/amplifier, such as in transoceanic communication, powered by a Pu{sub 238} or Sr{sub 90} thermoelectric generator. The amplifier comprises a unit with connections on the receiving and sending sides of the communications system, and an erbium-doped fiber amplifier connecting each sending fiber to each receiving fiber. The thermoelectric generator, preferably a Pu{sub 238} or Sr{sub 90} thermoelectric generator delivers power to the amplifiers through a regulator. The heat exchange surfaces of the thermoelectric generator are made of material resistant to corrosion and biological growth and are directly exposed to the outside, such as the ocean water in transoceanic communications.

Fiber optic signal amplifier using thermoelectric power generation

DOEpatents

Hart, M.M.

1995-04-18

A remote fiber optic signal amplifier for use as a repeater/amplifier, such as in transoceanic communications, powered by a Pu{sub 238} or Sr{sub 90} thermoelectric generator. The amplifier comprises a unit with connections on the receiving and sending sides of the communications system, and an erbium-doped fiber amplifier connecting each sending fiber to each receiving fiber. The thermoelectric generator, preferably a Pu{sub 238} or Sr{sub 90} thermoelectric generator delivers power to the amplifiers through a regulator. The heat exchange surfaces of the thermoelectric generator are made of materials resistant to corrosion and biological growth and are directly exposed to the outside, such as the ocean water in transoceanic communications. 2 figs.

Fiber optic signal amplifier using thermoelectric power generation

DOEpatents

Hart, Mark M.

1995-01-01

A remote fiber optic signal amplifier for use as a repeater/amplifier, such as in transoceanic communications, powered by a Pu.sub.238 or Sr.sub.90 thermoelectric generator. The amplifier comprises a unit with connections on the receiving and sending sides of the communications system, and an erbium-doped fiber amplifier connecting each sending fiber to each receiving fiber. The thermoelectric generator, preferably a Pu.sub.238 or Sr.sub.90 thermoelectric generator delivers power to the amplifiers through a regulator. The heat exchange surfaces of the thermoelectric generator are made of materials resistant to corrosion and biological growth and are directly exposed to the outside, such as the ocean water in transoceanic communications.

Distributed strain measurement in a rectangular plate using an array of optical fiber sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Claus, R. O.; Wade, J. C.

1984-01-01

Single mode optical fiber waveguide has been used to determine the two-dimensional strain distribution on a simply supported rectangular plate. Each of the fifty individual fibers in the rectangular grid array attached to one surface of the plate yields a measurement of the strain integrated along the length of that fiber on the specimen. By using similar sensor information from all of the fibers, both the functional form and the amplitude of the distribution may be determined. Limits on the dynamic range and spatial resolution are indicated. Applications in the measurement of internal strain and the monitoring of physically small critical-structural components are suggested.

Technique development for photoacoustic imaging guided interventions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Qian; Zhang, Haonan; Yuan, Jie; Feng, Ting; Xu, Guan; Wang, Xueding

2015-03-01

Laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT), i.e. tissue destruction induced by a local increase of temperature by means of laser light energy transmission, has been frequently used for minimally invasive treatments of various diseases such as benign thyroid nodules and liver cancer. The emerging photoacoustic (PA) imaging, when integrated with ultrasound (US), could contribute to LITT procedure. PA can enable a good visualization of percutaneous apparatus deep inside tissue and, therefore, can offer accurate guidance of the optical fibers to the target tissue. Our initial experiment demonstrated that, by picking the strong photoacoustic signals generated at the tips of optical fibers as a needle, the trajectory and position of the fibers could be visualized clearly using a commercial available US unit. When working the conventional US Bscan mode, the fibers disappeared when the angle between the fibers and the probe surface was larger than 60 degree; while working on the new PA mode, the fibers could be visualized without any problem even when the angle between the fibers and the probe surface was larger than 75 degree. Moreover, with PA imaging function integrated, the optical fibers positioned into the target tissue, besides delivering optical energy for thermotherapy, can also be used to generate PA signals for on-line evaluation of LITT. Powered by our recently developed PA physio-chemical analysis, PA measurements from the tissue can provide a direct and accurate feedback of the tissue responses to laser ablation, including the changes in not only chemical compositions but also histological microstructures. The initial experiment on the rat liver model has demonstrated the excellent sensitivity of PA imaging to the changes in tissue temperature rise and tissue status (from native to coagulated) when the tissue is treated in vivo with LITT.

Fiber-Optic Surface Temperature Sensor Based on Modal Interference.

PubMed

Musin, Frédéric; Mégret, Patrice; Wuilpart, Marc

2016-07-28

Spatially-integrated surface temperature sensing is highly useful when it comes to controlling processes, detecting hazardous conditions or monitoring the health and safety of equipment and people. Fiber-optic sensing based on modal interference has shown great sensitivity to temperature variation, by means of cost-effective image-processing of few-mode interference patterns. New developments in the field of sensor configuration, as described in this paper, include an innovative cooling and heating phase discrimination functionality and more precise measurements, based entirely on the image processing of interference patterns. The proposed technique was applied to the measurement of the integrated surface temperature of a hollow cylinder and compared with a conventional measurement system, consisting of an infrared camera and precision temperature probe. As a result, the optical technique is in line with the reference system. Compared with conventional surface temperature probes, the optical technique has the following advantages: low heat capacity temperature measurement errors, easier spatial deployment, and replacement of multiple angle infrared camera shooting and the continuous monitoring of surfaces that are not visually accessible.

Optical fiber meta-tips

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Principe, Maria; Micco, Alberto; Crescitelli, Alessio; Castaldi, Giuseppe; Consales, Marco; Esposito, Emanuela; La Ferrara, Vera; Galdi, Vincenzo; Cusano, Andrea

2016-04-01

We report on the first example of a "meta-tip" configuration that integrates a metasurface on the tip of an optical fiber. Our proposed design is based on an inverted-Babinet plasmonic metasurface obtained by patterning (via focused ion beam) a thin gold film deposited on the tip of an optical fiber, so as to realize an array of rectangular aperture nanoantennas with spatially modulated sizes. By properly tuning the resonances of the aperture nanoantennas, abrupt variations can be impressed in the field wavefront and polarization. We fabricated and characterized several proof-of-principle prototypes operating an near-infrared wavelengths, and implementing the beam-steering (with various angles) of the cross-polarized component, as well as the excitation of surface waves. Our results pave the way to the integration of the exceptional field-manipulation capabilities enabled by metasurfaces with the versatility and ubiquity of fiber-optics technological platforms.

Optical Injection Locking of Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers: Digital and Analog Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parekh, Devang

With the rise of mobile (cellphones, tablets, notebooks, etc.) and broadband wireline communications (Fiber to the Home), there are increasing demands being placed on transmitters for moving data from device to device and around the world. Digital and analog fiber-optic communications have been the key technology to meet this challenge, ushering in ubiquitous Internet and cable TV over the past 20 years. At the physical layer, high-volume low-cost manufacturing of semiconductor optoelectronic devices has played an integral role in allowing for deployment of high-speed communication links. In particular, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) have revolutionized short reach communications and are poised to enter more markets due to their low cost, small size, and performance. However, VCSELs have disadvantages such as limited modulation performance and large frequency chirp which limits fiber transmission speed and distance, key parameters for many fiber-optic communication systems. Optical injection locking is one method to overcome these limitations without re-engineering the VCSEL at the device level. By locking the frequency and phase of the VCSEL by the direct injection of light from another laser oscillator, improved device performance is achieved in a post-fabrication method. In this dissertation, optical injection locking of VCSELs is investigated from an applications perspective. Optical injection locking of VCSELs can be used as a pathway to reduce complexity, cost, and size of both digital and analog fiber-optic communications. On the digital front, reduction of frequency chirp via bit pattern inversion for large-signal modulation is experimentally demonstrated showing up to 10 times reduction in frequency chirp and over 90 times increase in fiber transmission distance. Based on these results, a new reflection-based interferometric model for optical injection locking was established to explain this phenomenon. On the analog side, the resonance frequency enhancement was exploited for millimeter-wave radio over fiber communications. Experimental demonstration of 4 Gb/s data transmission over 20 km of fiber and 3 m of wireless transmission at a 60 GHz carrier frequency was achieved. Additionally, optical injection of multi-transverse mode (MM) VCSELs was investigated showing record resonance frequency enhancement of > 54 GHz and 3-dB bandwidth of 38 GHz. Besides these applications, a number of other intriguing applications are also discussed, including an optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) and wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical networks (WDM-PON). Finally, the future of optical injection locking and its direction going forward will be discussed.

Fibre Optic Connections And Method For Using Same

DOEpatents

Chan, Benson; Cohen, Mitchell S.; Fortier, Paul F.; Freitag, Ladd W.; Hall, Richard R.; Johnson, Glen W.; Lin, How Tzu; Sherman, John H.

2004-03-30

A package is described that couples a twelve channel wide fiber optic cable to a twelve channel Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) transmitter and a multiple channel Perpendicularly Aligned Integrated Die (PAID) receiver. The package allows for reduction in the height of the assembly package by vertically orienting certain dies parallel to the fiber optic cable and horizontally orienting certain other dies. The assembly allows the vertically oriented optoelectronic dies to be perpendicularly attached to the horizontally oriented laminate via a flexible circuit.

Aligning Optical Fibers by Means of Actuated MEMS Wedges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morgan, Brian; Ghodssi, Reza

2007-01-01

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) of a proposed type would be designed and fabricated to effect lateral and vertical alignment of optical fibers with respect to optical, electro-optical, optoelectronic, and/or photonic devices on integrated circuit chips and similar monolithic device structures. A MEMS device of this type would consist of a pair of oppositely sloped alignment wedges attached to linear actuators that would translate the wedges in the plane of a substrate, causing an optical fiber in contact with the sloping wedge surfaces to undergo various displacements parallel and perpendicular to the plane. In making it possible to accurately align optical fibers individually during the packaging stages of fabrication of the affected devices, this MEMS device would also make it possible to relax tolerances in other stages of fabrication, thereby potentially reducing costs and increasing yields. In a typical system according to the proposal (see Figure 1), one or more pair(s) of alignment wedges would be positioned to create a V groove in which an optical fiber would rest. The fiber would be clamped at a suitable distance from the wedges to create a cantilever with a slight bend to push the free end of the fiber gently to the bottom of the V groove. The wedges would be translated in the substrate plane by amounts Dx1 and Dx2, respectively, which would be chosen to move the fiber parallel to the plane by a desired amount Dx and perpendicular to the plane by a desired amount Dy. The actuators used to translate the wedges could be variants of electrostatic or thermal actuators that are common in MEMS.

Improved coating for silica fiber based ceramic Reusable Surface Insulation (CRSI)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ormiston, T. J.

1974-01-01

A series of coatings was developed for the space shuttle type silica fiber insulation system and characterized for optical and physical properties. Reentry simulation tests were run using a radiant panel and also using a hypersonic plasma arc. The coatings produced had improved physical and optical properties as well as greater reuse capability over the GE version of the JSC-0042 coating.

Fiber optic probe for light scattering measurements

DOEpatents

Nave, Stanley E.; Livingston, Ronald R.; Prather, William S.

1995-01-01

A fiber optic probe and a method for using the probe for light scattering analyses of a sample. The probe includes a probe body with an inlet for admitting a sample into an interior sample chamber, a first optical fiber for transmitting light from a source into the chamber, and a second optical fiber for transmitting light to a detector such as a spectrophotometer. The interior surface of the probe carries a coating that substantially prevents non-scattered light from reaching the second fiber. The probe is placed in a region where the presence and concentration of an analyte of interest are to be detected, and a sample is admitted into the chamber. Exciting light is transmitted into the sample chamber by the first fiber, where the light interacts with the sample to produce Raman-scattered light. At least some of the Raman-scattered light is received by the second fiber and transmitted to the detector for analysis. Two Raman spectra are measured, at different pressures. The first spectrum is subtracted from the second to remove background effects, and the resulting sample Raman spectrum is compared to a set of stored library spectra to determine the presence and concentration of the analyte.

Hectospec, the MMT's 300 Optical Fiber-Fed Spectrograph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fabricant, Daniel; Fata, Robert; Roll, John; Hertz, Edward; Caldwell, Nelson; Gauron, Thomas; Geary, John; McLeod, Brian; Szentgyorgyi, Andrew; Zajac, Joseph; Kurtz, Michael; Barberis, Jack; Bergner, Henry; Brown, Warren; Conroy, Maureen; Eng, Roger; Geller, Margaret; Goddard, Richard; Honsa, Michael; Mueller, Mark; Mink, Douglas; Ordway, Mark; Tokarz, Susan; Woods, Deborah; Wyatt, William; Epps, Harland; Dell'Antonio, Ian

2005-12-01

The Hectospec is a 300 optical fiber fed spectrograph commissioned at the MMT in the spring of 2004. In the configuration pioneered by the Autofib instrument at the Anglo-Australian Telescope, Hectospec's fiber probes are arranged in a radial ``fisherman on the pond'' geometry and held in position with small magnets. A pair of high-speed, six-axis robots move the 300 fiber buttons between observing configurations within ~300 s, and to an accuracy of ~25 μm. The optical fibers run for 26 m between the MMT's focal surface and the bench spectrograph, operating at R~1000-2000. Hectochelle, another high-dispersion bench spectrograph offering R~35,000, is also available. The system throughput, including all losses in the telescope optics, fibers, and spectrograph, peaks at ~10% at the grating blaze in 1" FWHM seeing. Correcting for aperture losses at the 1.5" diameter fiber entrance aperture, the system throughput peaks at ~17%, close to our prediction of 20%. Hectospec has proven to be a workhorse instrument at the MMT. Together, Hectospec and Hectochelle have been scheduled for 1/3 of the available nights since its commissioning. Hectospec has returned approximately 60,000 reduced spectra for 16 scientific programs during its first year of operation.

Fiber optic probe for light scattering measurements

DOEpatents

Nave, S.E.; Livingston, R.R.; Prather, W.S.

1993-01-01

This invention is comprised of a fiber optic probe and a method for using the probe for light scattering analyses of a sample. The probe includes a probe body with an inlet for admitting a sample into an interior sample chamber, a first optical fiber for transmitting light from a source into the chamber, and a second optical fiber for transmitting light to a detector such as a spectrophotometer. The interior surface of the probe carries a coating that substantially prevents non-scattered light from reaching the second fiber. The probe is placed in a region where the presence and concentration of an analyte of interest are to be detected, and a sample is admitted into the chamber. Exciting light is transmitted into the sample chamber by the first fiber, where the light interacts with the sample to produce Raman-scattered light. At least some of the Raman- scattered light is received by the second fiber and transmitted to the detector for analysis. Two Raman spectra are measured, at different pressures. The first spectrum is subtracted from the second to remove background effects, and the resulting sample Raman spectrum is compared to a set of stored library spectra to determine the presence and concentration of the analyte.

Non-invasive timing of gas gun-launched projectiles using external surface-mounted optical fiber-Bragg grating strain gauges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodwin, Peter M.; Marshall, Bruce R.; Stevens, Gerald D.; Dattelbaum, Dana M.

2013-03-01

Non-invasive detection methods for tracking gun-launched projectiles are important not only for assessment of gun performance but are also essential for timing a variety of diagnostics, for example, to investigate plate-impact events for shock compression experiments. Measurement of the time of passage of a projectile moving inside of the gun barrel can be achieved by detection of the transient hoop strain induced in the barrel of a light-gas gun by the passage of the projectile using external, barrel surface-mounted optical fiber-Bragg grating strain gauges. Optical fiber-Bragg gratings have been implemented and their response characterized on single-stage and two-stage light gas guns routinely used for dynamic experimentation at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Two approaches, using either broadband or narrowband illumination, were used to monitor changes in the Bragg wavelength of the fiber-Bragg gratings. The second approach, using narrowband laser illumination, offered the highest sensitivity. The feasibility of using these techniques to generate early, pre-event signals useful for triggering high-latency diagnostics was demonstrated.

Non-invasive timing of gas gun-launched projectiles using external surface-mounted optical fiber-Bragg grating strain gauges.

PubMed

Goodwin, Peter M; Marshall, Bruce R; Stevens, Gerald D; Dattelbaum, Dana M

2013-03-01

Non-invasive detection methods for tracking gun-launched projectiles are important not only for assessment of gun performance but are also essential for timing a variety of diagnostics, for example, to investigate plate-impact events for shock compression experiments. Measurement of the time of passage of a projectile moving inside of the gun barrel can be achieved by detection of the transient hoop strain induced in the barrel of a light-gas gun by the passage of the projectile using external, barrel surface-mounted optical fiber-Bragg grating strain gauges. Optical fiber-Bragg gratings have been implemented and their response characterized on single-stage and two-stage light gas guns routinely used for dynamic experimentation at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Two approaches, using either broadband or narrowband illumination, were used to monitor changes in the Bragg wavelength of the fiber-Bragg gratings. The second approach, using narrowband laser illumination, offered the highest sensitivity. The feasibility of using these techniques to generate early, pre-event signals useful for triggering high-latency diagnostics was demonstrated.

Aluminum surface corrosion and the mechanism of inhibitors using pH and metal ion selective imaging fiber bundles.

PubMed

Szunerits, Sabine; Walt, David R

2002-02-15

The localized corrosion behavior of a galvanic aluminum copper couple was investigated by in situ fluorescence imaging with a fiber-optic imaging sensor. Three different, but complementary methods were used for visualizing remote corrosion sites, mapping the topography of the metal surface, and measuring local chemical concentrations of H+, OH-, and Al3+. The first method is based on a pH-sensitive imaging fiber, where the fluorescent dye SNAFL was covalently attached to the fiber's distal end. Fluorescence images were acquired as a function of time at different areas of the galvanic couple. In a second method, the fluorescent dye morin was immobilized on the fiber-optic imaging sensor, which allowed the in situ localization of corrosion processes on pure aluminum to be visualized over time by monitoring the release of Al3+. The development of fluorescence on the aluminum surface defined the areas associated with the anodic dissolution of aluminum. We also investigated the inhibition of corrosion of pure aluminum by CeCl3 and 8-hydroxyquinoline. The decrease in current, the decrease in the number of active sites on the aluminum surface, and the faster surface passivation are all consistent indications that cerium chloride and 8-hydroxyquinoline inhibit corrosion effectively. From the number and extent of corrosion sites and the release of aluminum ions monitored with the fiber, it was shown that 8-hydroxyquinoline is a more effective inhibitor than cerium chloride.

ED07-0287-08

NASA Image and Video Library

2007-12-17

Although the new fiber optic sensors on the Ikhana, which are located on fibers that are the diameter of a human hair, are not visible, the sealant used to cover them can be seen in this view from above the left wing. NASA Dryden Flight Research Center is evaluating an advanced fiber optic-based sensing technology installed on the wings of NASA's Ikhana aircraft. The fiber optic system measures and displays the shape of the aircraft's wings in flight. There are other potential safety applications for the technology, such as vehicle structural health monitoring. If an aircraft structure can be monitored with sensors and a computer can manipulate flight control surfaces to compensate for stresses on the wings, structural control can be established to prevent situations that might otherwise result in a loss of control.

ED08-0109-08

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-05-01

Ikhana fiber optic wing shape sensor team: clockwise from left, Anthony "Nino" Piazza, Allen Parker, William Ko and Lance Richards. The sensors, located along a fiber the thickness of a human hair, aren't visible in the center of the Ikhana aircraft's left wing. NASA Dryden Flight Research Center is evaluating an advanced fiber optic-based sensing technology installed on the wings of NASA's Ikhana aircraft. The fiber optic system measures and displays the shape of the aircraft's wings in flight. There are other potential safety applications for the technology, such as vehicle structural health monitoring. If an aircraft structure can be monitored with sensors and a computer can manipulate flight control surfaces to compensate for stresses on the wings, structural control can be established to prevent situations that might otherwise result in a loss of control.

Development of an optical fiber SERS microprobe for minimally invasive sensing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mamun, Md Abdullah Al; Juodkazis, Saulius; Mahadevan-Jansen, Anita; Stoddart, Paul R.

2018-02-01

Numerous potential biomedical sensing applications of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) have been reported, but its practical use has been limited by the lack of a robust sensing platform. Optical fiber SERS probes show great promise, but are limited by the prominent silica Raman background, which requires the use of bulky optics for filtering the signal collection and excitation delivery paths. In the present study, a SERS microprobe has been designed and developed to eliminate the bottlenecks outlined above. For efficient excitation and delivery of the SERS signal, both hollow core photonic crystal fiber and double clad fiber have been investigated. While the hollow core fiber was still found to have excessive silica background, the double clad fiber allows efficient signal collection via the multi-mode inner cladding. A micro filtering mechanism has been designed, which can be integrated into the tip of the optical fiber SERS probe, providing filtering to suppress silica Raman background and thus avoiding the need for bulky optics. The design also assists in the efficient collection of SERS signal from the sample by rejecting Rayleigh scattered light from the sample. Optical fiber cleaving using ultra-short laser pulses was tested for improved control of the fiber tip geometry. With this miniaturized and integrated filtering mechanism, it is expected that the developed probe will promote the use of SERS for minimally invasive biomedical monitoring and sensing applications in future. The probe could potentially be placed inside a small gauge hypodermic needle and would be compatible with handheld portable spectrometers.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sabau, Adrian S.; Greer, Clayton M.; Chen, Jian

Here, the increasing use of Carbon Fiber-reinforced Polymer matrix Composites (CFPC) and aluminum alloys as lightweight materials in the automotive and aerospace industries demands enhanced surface preparation and control of surface morphology prior to joining. In this study, surfaces of both composite and aluminum were prepared for joining using an Nd:YAG laser in a two-beam interference setup, enabling the (a) structuring of the AL 5182 surface, (b) removal of the resin layer on top of carbon fibers, and (c) structuring of the carbon fibers. CFPC specimens of T700S carbon fiber, Prepreg - T8 3 epoxy, 5 ply thick, 0/90o plaquesmore » were used. The effect of laser fluence, scanning speed, and number of shots-per-spot was investigated on the removal rate of the resin without an excessive damage of the fibers. Optical micrographs, 3D imaging, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging were used to study the effect of the laser processing on surface morphology.« less

Multi-focus beam shaping of high power multimode lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laskin, Alexander; Volpp, Joerg; Laskin, Vadim; Ostrun, Aleksei

2017-08-01

Beam shaping of powerful multimode fiber lasers, fiber-coupled solid-state and diode lasers is of great importance for improvements of industrial laser applications. Welding, cladding with millimetre scale working spots benefit from "inverseGauss" intensity profiles; performance of thick metal sheet cutting, deep penetration welding can be enhanced when distributing the laser energy along the optical axis as more efficient usage of laser energy, higher edge quality and reduction of the heat affected zone can be achieved. Building of beam shaping optics for multimode lasers encounters physical limitations due to the low beam spatial coherence of multimode fiber-coupled lasers resulting in big Beam Parameter Products (BPP) or M² values. The laser radiation emerging from a multimode fiber presents a mixture of wavefronts. The fiber end can be considered as a light source which optical properties are intermediate between a Lambertian source and a single mode laser beam. Imaging of the fiber end, using a collimator and a focusing objective, is a robust and widely used beam delivery approach. Beam shaping solutions are suggested in form of optics combining fiber end imaging and geometrical separation of focused spots either perpendicular to or along the optical axis. Thus, energy of high power lasers is distributed among multiple foci. In order to provide reliable operation with multi-kW lasers and avoid damages the optics are designed as refractive elements with smooth optical surfaces. The paper presents descriptions of multi-focus optics as well as examples of intensity profile measurements of beam caustics and application results.

Plasmonic fiber-optic vector magnetometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhaochuan; Guo, Tuan; Zhang, Xuejun; Xu, Jian; Xie, Wenping; Nie, Ming; Wu, Qiang; Guan, Bai-Ou; Albert, Jacques

2016-03-01

A compact fiber-optic vector magnetometer based on directional scattering between polarized plasmon waves and ferro-magnetic nanoparticles is demonstrated. The sensor configuration reported in this work uses a short section of tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) coated with a nanometer scale gold film and packaged with a magnetic fluid (Fe3O4) inside a capillary. The transmission spectrum of the sensor provides a fine comb of narrowband resonances that overlap with a broader absorption of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The wavelength of the SPR attenuation in transmission shows high sensitivity to slight perturbations by magnetic fields, due to the strong directional scattering between the SPR attenuated cladding modes and the magnetic fluid near the fiber surface. Both the orientation (2 nm/deg) and the intensity (1.8 nm/mT) of magnetic fields can be determined unambiguously from the TFBG spectrum. Temperature cross sensitivity can be referenced out by monitoring the wavelength of the core mode resonance simultaneously.

Optical coefficient measurements using bulk living tissue by an optical fiber puncture with FOV change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakazawa, Haruna; Doi, Marika; Ogawa, Emiyu; Arai, Tsunenori

2018-02-01

To avoid an instability of the optical coefficient measurement using sliced tissue preparation, we proposed the combination of light intensity measurement through an optical fiber puncturing into a bulk tissue varying field of view (FOV) and ray tracing calculation using Monte-Carlo method. The optical coefficients of myocardium such as absorption coefficient μa, scattering coefficient μs, and anisotropic parameter g are used in the myocardium optical propagation. Since optical coefficients obtained using thin sliced tissue could be instable because they are affected by dehydration and intracellular fluid effusion on the sample surface, variety of coefficients have been reported over individual optical differences of living samples. The proposed method which combined the experiment using the bulk tissue with ray tracing calculation were performed. In this method, a 200 μmΦ high-NA silica fiber installed in a 21G needle was punctured up to the bottom of the myocardial bulk tissue over 3 cm in thickness to measure light intensity changing the fiber-tip depth and FOV. We found that the measured attenuation coefficients decreased as the FOV increased. The ray trace calculation represented the same FOV dependence in above mentioned experimental result. We think our particular fiber punctured measurement using bulk tissue varying FOV with Inverse Monte-Carlo method might be useful to obtain the optical coefficients to avoid sample preparation instabilities.

Nanosphere Lithography on Fiber: Towards Engineered Lab-On-Fiber SERS Optrodes

PubMed Central

Quero, Giuseppe; Zito, Gianluigi; Cusano, Andrea

2018-01-01

In this paper we report on the engineering of repeatable surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) optical fiber sensor devices (optrodes), as realized through nanosphere lithography. The Lab-on-Fiber SERS optrode consists of polystyrene nanospheres in a close-packed arrays configuration covered by a thin film of gold on the optical fiber tip. The SERS surfaces were fabricated by using a nanosphere lithography approach that is already demonstrated as able to produce highly repeatable patterns on the fiber tip. In order to engineer and optimize the SERS probes, we first evaluated and compared the SERS performances in terms of Enhancement Factor (EF) pertaining to different patterns with different nanosphere diameters and gold thicknesses. To this aim, the EF of SERS surfaces with a pitch of 500, 750 and 1000 nm, and gold films of 20, 30 and 40 nm have been retrieved, adopting the SERS signal of a monolayer of biphenyl-4-thiol (BPT) as a reliable benchmark. The analysis allowed us to identify of the most promising SERS platform: for the samples with nanospheres diameter of 500 nm and gold thickness of 30 nm, we measured values of EF of 4 × 105, which is comparable with state-of-the-art SERS EF achievable with highly performing colloidal gold nanoparticles. The reproducibility of the SERS enhancement was thoroughly evaluated. In particular, the SERS intensity revealed intra-sample (i.e., between different spatial regions of a selected substrate) and inter-sample (i.e., between regions of different substrates) repeatability, with a relative standard deviation lower than 9 and 15%, respectively. Finally, in order to determine the most suitable optical fiber probe, in terms of excitation/collection efficiency and Raman background, we selected several commercially available optical fibers and tested them with a BPT solution used as benchmark. A fiber probe with a pure silica core of 200 µm diameter and high numerical aperture (i.e., 0.5) was found to be the most promising fiber platform, providing the best trade-off between high excitation/collection efficiency and low background. This work, thus, poses the basis for realizing reproducible and engineered Lab-on-Fiber SERS optrodes for in-situ trace detection directed toward highly advanced in vivo sensing. PMID:29495322

Sensing surface morphology of biofibers by decorating spider silk and cellulosic filaments with nematic microdroplets

PubMed Central

Aguirre, Luis E.; de Oliveira, Alexandre; Seč, David; Čopar, Simon; Almeida, Pedro L.; Ravnik, Miha; Godinho, Maria Helena; Žumer, Slobodan

2016-01-01

Probing the surface morphology of microthin fibers such as naturally occurring biofibers is essential for understanding their structural properties, biological function, and mechanical performance. The state-of-the-art methods for studying the surfaces of biofibers are atomic force microscopy imaging and scanning electron microscopy, which well characterize surface geometry of the fibers but provide little information on the local interaction potential of the fibers with the surrounding material. In contrast, complex nematic fluids respond very well to external fields and change their optical properties upon such stimuli. Here we demonstrate that liquid crystal droplets deposited on microthin biofibers—including spider silk and cellulosic fibers—reveal characteristics of the fibers’ surface, performing as simple but sensitive surface sensors. By combining experiments and numerical modeling, different types of fibers are identified through the fiber-to-nematic droplet interactions, including perpendicular and axial or helicoidal planar molecular alignment. Spider silks align nematic molecules parallel to fibers or perpendicular to them, whereas cellulose aligns the molecules unidirectionally or helicoidally along the fibers, indicating notably different surface interactions. The nematic droplets as sensors thus directly reveal chirality of cellulosic fibers. Different fiber entanglements can be identified by depositing droplets exactly at the fiber crossings. More generally, the presented method can be used as a simple but powerful approach for probing the surface properties of small-size bioobjects, opening a route to their precise characterization. PMID:26768844

Fiber Optic Thermal Health Monitoring of Aerospace Structures and Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Meng-Chou; Winfree, William P.; Allison, Sidney G.

2009-01-01

A new technique is presented for thermographic detection of flaws in materials and structures by performing temperature measurements with fiber Bragg gratings. Individual optical fibers with multiple Bragg gratings employed as surface temperature sensors were bonded to the surfaces of structures with subsurface defects or thickness variations. Both during and following the application of a thermal heat flux to the surface, the individual Bragg grating sensors measured the temporal and spatial temperature variations. The investigated structures included a 10-ply composite specimen with subsurface delaminations of various sizes and depths. The data obtained from grating sensors were further analyzed with thermal modeling to reveal particular characteristics of the interested areas. These results were found to be consistent with those from conventional thermography techniques. Limitations of the technique were investigated using both experimental and numerical simulation techniques. Methods for performing in-situ structural health monitoring are discussed.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen Jihuan; Zhao Jiarong; Huang Xuguang

A simple fiber-optic sensor based on Fabry-Perot interference for refractive index measurement of optical glass is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. A broadband light source is coupled into an extrinsic fiber Fabry-Perot cavity formed by the surfaces of a sensing fiber end and the measured sample. The interference signals from the cavity are reflected back into the same fiber. The refractive index of the sample can be obtained by measuring the contrast of the interference fringes. The experimental data meet with the theoretical values very well. The proposed technique is a new method for glass refractive index measurement with amore » simple, solid, and compact structure.« less

Fiber optic light collection system for scanning-tunneling-microscope-induced light emission.

PubMed

Watkins, Neil J; Long, James P; Kafafi, Zakya H; Mäkinen, Antti J

2007-05-01

We report a compact light collection scheme suitable for retrofitting a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) for STM-induced light emission experiments. The approach uses a pair of optical fibers with large core diameters and high numerical apertures to maximize light collection efficiency and to moderate the mechanical precision required for alignment. Bench tests indicate that efficiency reduction is almost entirely due to reflective losses at the fiber ends, while losses due to fiber misalignment have virtually been eliminated. Photon-map imaging with nanometer features is demonstrated on a stepped Au(111) surface with signal rates exceeding 10(4) counts/s.

Gold nanoparticle-based plasmonic random fiber laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Zhijia; Liang, Yunyun; Xie, Kang; Gao, Pengfei; Zhang, Douguo; Jiang, Haiming; Shi, Fan; Yin, Leicheng; Gao, Jiangang; Ming, Hai; Zhang, Qijin

2015-03-01

We have reported the realization of a plasmonic random fiber laser based on the localized surface plasmonic resonance of gold nanoparticles (NPs) in the liquid core optical fiber. The liquid core material contains a dispersive solution of gold NPs and laser dye pyrromethene 597 in toluene. It was experimentally proved that the fluorescence quenching of the dye is restrained in the optical fiber, which is considered one of the main sources of loss in the traditional laser system. Meanwhile, the random lasing can be more easily obtained in the random laser system with more overlap between the plasmonic resonance of the gold NPs and the photoluminescence spectrum of the dye molecules.

Microgravity

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-02-05

Scarning electron microscope images of the surface of ZBLAN fibers pulled in microgravity (ug) and on Earth (1g) show the crystallization that normally occurs in ground-based processing. The face of each crystal will reflect or refract a portion of the optical signal, thus degrading its quality. NASA is conducting research on pulling ZBLAN fibers in the low-g environment of space to prevent crystallization that limits ZBLAN's usefulness in optical fiber-based communications. ZBLAN is a heavy-metal fluoride glass that shows exdeptional promise for high-throughput communications with infrared lasers. Photo credit: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center

Effect of Surface Coverage of Gold Nanoparticles on the Refractive Index Sensitivity in Fiber-Optic Nanoplasmonic Sensing.

PubMed

Wu, Wei-Te; Chen, Chien-Hsing; Chiang, Chang-Yue; Chau, Lai-Kwan

2018-05-31

A simple theoretical model was developed to analyze the extinction spectrum of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the fiber core and glass surfaces in order to aid the determination of the surface coverage and surface distribution of the AuNPs on the fiber core surface for sensitivity optimization of the fiber optic particle plasmon resonance (FOPPR) sensor. The extinction spectrum of AuNPs comprises of the interband absorption of AuNPs, non-interacting plasmon resonance (PR) band due to isolated AuNPs, and coupled PR band of interacting AuNPs. When the surface coverage is smaller than 12.2%, the plasmon coupling effect can almost be ignored. This method is also applied to understand the refractive index sensitivity of the FOPPR sensor with respect to the non-interacting PR band and the coupled PR band. In terms of wavelength sensitivity at a surface coverage of 18.6%, the refractive index sensitivity of the coupled PR band (205.5 nm/RIU) is greater than that of the non-interacting PR band (349.1 nm/RIU). In terms of extinction sensitivity, refractive index sensitivity of the coupled PR band (-3.86/RIU) is similar to that of the non-interacting PR band (-3.93/RIU). Both maximum wavelength and extinction sensitivities were found at a surface coverage of 15.2%.

Chemical-assisted femtosecond laser writing of lab-in-fibers.

PubMed

Haque, Moez; Lee, Kenneth K C; Ho, Stephen; Fernandes, Luís A; Herman, Peter R

2014-10-07

The lab-on-chip (LOC) platform has presented a powerful opportunity to improve functionalization, parallelization, and miniaturization on planar or multilevel geometries that has not been possible with fiber optic technology. A migration of such LOC devices into the optical fiber platform would therefore open the revolutionary prospect of creating novel lab-in-fiber (LIF) systems on the basis of an efficient optical transport highway for multifunctional sensing. For the LIF, the core optical waveguide inherently offers a facile means to interconnect numerous types of sensing elements along the optical fiber, presenting a radical opportunity for optimizing the packaging and densification of diverse components in convenient geometries beyond that available with conventional LOCs. In this paper, three-dimensional patterning inside the optical fiber by femtosecond laser writing, together with selective chemical etching, is presented as a powerful tool to form refractive index structures such as optical waveguides and gratings as well as to open buried microfluidic channels and optical resonators inside the flexible and robust glass fiber. In this approach, optically smooth surfaces (~12 nm rms) are introduced for the first time inside the fiber cladding that precisely conform to planar nanograting structures when formed by aberration-free focusing with an oil-immersion lens across the cylindrical fiber wall. This process has enabled optofluidic components to be precisely embedded within the fiber to be probed by either the single-mode fiber core waveguide or the laser-formed optical circuits. We establish cladding waveguides, X-couplers, fiber Bragg gratings, microholes, mirrors, optofluidic resonators, and microfluidic reservoirs that define the building blocks for facile interconnection of inline core-waveguide devices with cladding optofluidics. With these components, more advanced, integrated, and multiplexed fiber microsystems are presented demonstrating fluorescence detection, Fabry-Perot interferometric refractometry, and simultaneous sensing of refractive index, temperature, and bending strain. The flexible writing technique and multiplexed sensors described here open powerful prospects to migrate the benefits of LOCs into a more flexible and miniature LIF platform for highly functional and distributed sensing capabilities. The waveguide backbone of the LIF inherently provides an efficient exchange of information, combining sensing data that are attractive in telecom networks, smart catheters for medical procedures, compact sensors for security and defense, shape sensors, and low-cost health care products.

Micromachined mirrors for raster-scanning displays and optical fiber switches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hagelin, Paul Merritt

Micromachines and micro-optics have the potential to shrink the size and cost of free-space optical systems, enabling a new generation of high-performance, compact projection displays and telecommunications equipment. In raster-scanning displays and optical fiber switches, a free-space optical beam can interact with multiple tilt- up micromirrors fabricated on a single substrate. The size, rotation angle, and flatness of the mirror surfaces determine the number of pixels in a raster-display or ports in an optical switch. Single-chip and two-chip optical raster display systems demonstrate static mirror curvature correction, an integrated electronic driver board, and dynamic micromirror performance. Correction for curvature caused by a stress gradient in the micromirror leads to resolution of 102 by 119 pixels in the single-chip display. The optical design of the two-chip display features in-situ mirror curvature measurement and adjustable image magnification with a single output lens. An electronic driver board synchronizes modulation of the optical source with micromirror actuation for the display of images. Dynamic off-axis mirror motion is shown to have minimal influence on resolution. The confocal switch, a free-space optical fiber cross- connect, incorporates micromirrors having a design similar to the image-refresh scanner. Two micromirror arrays redirect optical beams from an input fiber array to the output fibers. The switch architecture supports simultaneous switching of multiple wavelength channels. A 2x2 switch configuration, using single-mode optical fiber at 1550 mn, is demonstrated with insertion loss of -4.2 dB and cross-talk of -50.5 dB. The micromirrors have sufficient size and angular range for scaling to a 32x32 cross-connect switch that has low insertion-loss and low cross-talk.

[Spectral characteristics of refractive index based on nanocoated optical fiber F-P sensor].

PubMed

Jiang, Ming-Shun; Li, Qiu-Shun; Sui, Qing-Mei; Jia, Lei; Peng, Peng

2013-01-01

An optical fiber Fabry-Perot (F-P) interferometer end surface was modified using layer-by-layer assembly and chemical covalent cross linking method, and the refractive index (RI) response characteristics of coated optical fiber F-P sensor were experimentally studied. Poly diallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA) and sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) were chosen as nano-film materials. With the numbers of layers increasing, the reflection spectral contrast of optical fiber F-P sensor presents from high to low, then to high regularity. And the reflection spectral contrast has good temperature stability. The reflection spectra of the optical F-P sensor coated with 20 bilayers for a series of concentration of sucrose and inorganic solution were measured. Experimental results show that the inflection point extends from 1.457 to 1.462 3, and the reflection spectral contrast sensitivity to low RI material and high RI material is 24.53 and 3.60 dB x RI(-1), respectively, with good linearity. The results demonstrate that the functional coated optical F-P sensor provides a new method for biology and chemical material test.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nave, S.E.

Recent advances in fiber optics, diode lasers, CCD detectors, dielectric and holographic optical filters, grating spectrometers, and chemometric data analysis have greatly simplified Raman spectroscopy. In order to make a rugged fiber optic Raman probe for solids/slurries like these at Savannah River, we have designed a probe that eliminates as many optical elements and surfaces as possible. The diffuse reflectance probe tip is modified for Raman scattering by installing thin dielectric in-line filters. Effects of each filter are shown for the NaNO{sub 3} Raman spectrum. By using a diode laser excitation at 780 nm, fluorescence is greatly reduced, and excellentmore » spectra may be obtained from organic solids. At SRS, fiber optic Raman probes are being developed for in situ chemical mapping of radioactive waste storage tanks. Radiation darkening of silica fiber optics is negligible beyond 700 nm. Corrosion resistance is being evaluated. Analysis of process gas (off-gas from SRS processes) is investigated in some detail: hydrogen in nitrogen with NO{sub 2} interference. Other applications and the advantages of the method are pointed out briefly.« less

Optical fiber tip with point light source of SPPs driven by three-dimensional nanostructured asymmetric metal-insulator-metal layer cap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oshikane, Yasushi; Murai, Kensuke; Nakano, Motohiro

2015-09-01

Numerical analysis of three dimensional optical electro-magnetic field in a circular-truncated conical optical fiber covered by asymmetric MIM structure has been performed by a commercial finite element method package, COMSOL Multiphysics coupled with Wave Optics Module. The outermost thick metallic layer has twin nano-hole, and the waveguiding twin-hole could draw surface plasmon polaritions (SPPs) excited in the MIM structure to the surface. Finally the guided two SPPs could unite each other and may create a single bright spot. The systematic simulation is continuing, and the results will give us valuable counsel for control of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) appearing around the MIM structure and twin nano-hole. (1) Optimal design of the 3D FEM model for 8-core Xeon server and rational approach for the FEM analysis, (2) behavior of SPPs affected by wavelength and polarization of light travel through fiber, (3) change in excitation condition of SPPs caused by shape of the MIM structure and twin-hole, (4) effectiveness of additional nanostructures that are aimed at focusing control of two SPPs come out from the corners of twin-hole, (5) scanning ability of the MIM/twin-hole probe at nanostructured sample surface (i.e. amount of forward and backward scattering of SPPs) will be presented and discussed. Several FIBed prototypes and their characteristic of light emission will also reported.

Compact all-fiber interferometer system for shock acceleration measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jiang; Pi, Shaohua; Hong, Guangwei; Zhao, Dong; Jia, Bo

2013-08-01

Acceleration measurement plays an important role in a variety of fields in science and engineering. In particular, the accurate, continuous and non-contact recording of the shock acceleration profiles of the free target surfaces is considered as a critical technique in shock physics. Various kinds of optical interferometers have been developed to monitor the motion of the surfaces of shocked targets since the 1960s, for instance, the velocity interferometer system for any reflector, the fiber optic accelerometer, the photonic Doppler velocimetry system and the displacement interferometer. However, most of such systems rely on the coherent quasi-monochromatic illumination and discrete optic elements, which are costly in setting-up and maintenance. In 1996, L. Levin et al reported an interferometric fiber-optic Doppler velocimeter with high-dynamic range, in which fiber-coupled components were used to replace the discrete optic elements. However, the fringe visibility of the Levin's system is low because of the coupled components, which greatly limits the reliability and accuracy in the shock measurement. In this paper, a compact all-fiber interferometer system for measuring the shock acceleration is developed and tested. The advantage of the system is that not only removes the non-interfering light and enhances the fringe visibility, but also reduces polarization induced signal fading and the polarization induced phase shift. Moreover, it also does not require a source of long coherence length. The system bases entirely on single-mode fiber optics and mainly consists of a polarization beam splitter, a faraday rotator, a depolarizer and a 3×3 single-mode fiber coupler which work at 1310 nm wavelength. The optical systems of the interferometer are described and the experimental results compared with a shock acceleration calibration system with a pneumatic exciter (PneuShockTM Model 9525C by The Modal Shop) are reported. In the shock acceleration test, the interferometer system measured shock acceleration with peak accelerations of ~100,000 m/s2 and the durations of ~0.2 ms which are conformed to the results of the shock acceleration calibration system. The measured relative error of the acceleration is within 3%.

Fiber optic humidity sensor using water vapor condensation.

PubMed

Limodehi, Hamid E; Légaré, François

2017-06-26

The rate of vapor condensation on a solid surface depends on the ambient relative humidity (RH). Also, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) on a metal layer is sensitive to the refractive index change of its adjacent dielectric. The SPR effect appears as soon as a small amount of moisture forms on the sensor, resulting in a decrease in the amount of light transmitted due to plasmonic loss. Using this concept, we developed a fiber optic humidity sensor based on SPR. It can measure the ambient RH over a dynamic range from 10% to 85% with an accuracy of 3%.

Spatial Light Modulators as Optical Crossbar Switches

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Juday, Richard

2003-01-01

A proposed method of implementing cross connections in an optical communication network is based on the use of a spatial light modulator (SLM) to form controlled diffraction patterns that connect inputs (light sources) and outputs (light sinks). Sources would typically include optical fibers and/or light-emitting diodes; sinks would typically include optical fibers and/or photodetectors. The sources and/or sinks could be distributed in two dimensions; that is, on planes. Alternatively or in addition, sources and/or sinks could be distributed in three dimensions -- for example, on curved surfaces or in more complex (including random) three-dimensional patterns.

Highly compact fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer: A new instrument design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nowakowski, B. K.; Smith, D. T.; Smith, S. T.

2016-11-01

This paper presents the design, construction, and characterization of a new optical-fiber-based, low-finesse Fabry-Perot interferometer with a simple cavity formed by two reflecting surfaces (the end of a cleaved optical fiber and a plane, reflecting counter-surface), for the continuous measurement of displacements of several nanometers to several tens of millimeters. No beam collimation or focusing optics are required, resulting in a displacement sensor that is extremely compact (optical fiber diameter 125 μm), is surprisingly tolerant of misalignment (more than 5°), and can be used over a very wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions, including ultra-high-vacuum. The displacement measurement is derived from interferometric phase measurements using an infrared laser source whose wavelength is modulated sinusoidally at a frequency f. The phase signal is in turn derived from changes in the amplitudes of demodulated signals, at both the modulation frequency, f, and its harmonic at 2f, coming from a photodetector that is monitoring light intensity reflected back from the cavity as the cavity length changes. Simple quadrature detection results in phase errors corresponding to displacement errors of up to 25 nm, but by using compensation algorithms discussed in this paper, these inherent non-linearities can be reduced to below 3 nm. In addition, wavelength sweep capability enables measurement of the absolute surface separation. This experimental design creates a unique set of displacement measuring capabilities not previously combined in a single interferometer.

Characterization and application of optical fibers: 1. Application of optical fibers in gas concentration and radiation dose measurements. 2. Polarization effects in fiber communication systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Ping

The thesis consists of two research directions: Optical fiber applications in gas concentration and radiation dose measurements; and polarization effects in fiber optic communication systems. Part I of the thesis presents two optical fiber applications. (1) An infrared (IR) fiber bundle has been designed and fabricated to measure gas concentrations in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. This fiber bundle covers the IR range from 0.5 to 20 mum and reduces the light beam divergence in the CVD chamber, which makes it possible to measure gas concentrations in a region near the substrate surface. Semi-ellipsoid mirrors have been designed and used to increase the collection efficiency of infrared radiation and to compensate the loss introduced by the fiber bundle. (2) A fiber optic radiation sensor based on radiation-induced fiber loss is reported. The gamma radiation-induced loss spectra in various fibers have been studied. Among all the fibers tested, 5% P-doped fiber shows the highest sensitivity to gamma radiation. The wavelength and dose rate dependence of radiation-induced loss in 5% P-doped fiber are investigated and the possibility of using this fiber as a radiation sensor for radiation therapy is discussed. Part II of the thesis examines two polarization effects, polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and polarization dependent loss (PDL), in fiber optic communication systems based on the waveplate models. A new waveplate model, capable of generating any PMD and PDL values, is proposed to overcome the limitations of the conventional waveplate model. Using both models the statistical distributions of PDL and differential group delay (DGD) have been studied considering the presence of biased elliptical birefringence. The principal state of polarization (PSP) of an optical pulse is proposed for a fiber having both PMD and PDL. PMD and PDL of a pulse for a fiber consisting of two polarization maintaining fiber segments are calculated, and the pulse distortions due to PMD and PDL are analyzed. PMD and PDL impact on digital communication systems have been studied in terms of system Q factor, bit error rate (BER) and system outage probability. The acceptable PMD values in a system with PDL are discussed for various power margins. The Q factor distributions due to PDL and its combination with PMD have been measured experimentally and compared to numerical simulations.

Solder glass sealing technology for use in packaging of fiber optic sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreutzmann, Gerd

1990-08-01

The solder glass sealing technology is an alternative to the direct sealing method of the socalled hboptocansu. Using solder glass for the junction of glass and the metal can the temperature at about 500 °C does not destroy the optical quality of the precision glass components. The glass can also be coated with an antireflective layer and even the sealing of filterglass is possible. In cases where coupling losses can't be tolerated, the fiber has to be fed directly through the wall into the housing. Fiber feedthroughs, using solder glass for the sealing of the fiber into a metal tube, are commonly metal soldered or welded into the wall and the fiber surface is directly leading to the semiconductor.

Low temperature and UV curable sol-gel coatings for long lasting optical fiber biosensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otaduy, D.; Villar, A.; Gomez-Herrero, E.; Goitandia, A. M.; Gorritxategi, E.; Quintana, I.

2010-04-01

The use of optical fibers as sensing element is increasing in clinical, pharmaceutical and industrial applications. Excellent light delivery, long interaction length, low cost and ability not only to excite the target molecules but also to capture the emitted light from the targets are the hallmarks of optical fiber as biosensors. In biosensors based on fiber optics the interaction with the analyte can occur within an element of the optical fiber. One of the techniques for this kind of biosensors is to remove the fiber optic cladding and substitute it for biological coatings that will interact with the parameter to sensorize. The deposition of these layers can be made by sol-gel technology. The sol-gel technology is being increasingly used mainly due to the high versatility to tailor their optical features. Incorporation of suitable chemical and biochemical sensing agents have allowed determining pH, gases, and biochemical species, among others. Nonetheless, the relatively high processing temperatures and short lifetime values mean severe drawbacks for a successful exploitation of sol-gel based coated optical fibres. With regard to the latter, herein we present the design, preparation and characterization of novel sol-gel coated optical fibres. Low temperature and UV curable coating formulations were optimized to achieve a good adhesion and optical performance. The UV photopolymerizable formulation was comprised by glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GLYMO), Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and an initiator. While the thermoset coating was prepared by using 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, GLYMO, and TEOS as main reagents. Both curable sol-gel coated fibres were analysed by FTIR, SEM and optical characterization. Furthermore, in the present work a new technique for silica cladding removal has been developed by ultra-short pulses laser processing, getting good dimensional accuracy and surface integrity.

Nano-cone optical fiber array sensors for MiRNA profiling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yunshan; Senapati, Satyajyoti; Stoddart, Paul; Howard, Scott; Chang, Hsueh-Chia

2013-09-01

Up/down regulation of microRNA panels has been correlated to cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Frequent miRNA profiling at home can hence allow early cancer diagnosis and home-use chronic disease monitoring, thus reducing both mortality rate and healthcare cost. However, lifetime of miRNAs is less than 1 hour without preservation and their concentrations range from pM to mM. Despite rapid progress in the last decade, modern nucleic acid analysis methods still do not allow personalized miRNA profiling---Real-time PCR and DNA micro-array both require elaborate miRNA preservation steps and expensive equipment and nano pore sensors cannot selectively quantify a large panel with a large dynamic range. We report a novel and low-cost optical fiber sensing platform, which has the potential to profile a panel of miRNA with simple LED light sources and detectors. The individual tips of an optical imaging fiber bundle (mm in diameter with 7000 fiber cores) were etched into cones with 10 nm radius of curvature and coated with Au. FRET (Forster Resonant Energy Transfer) hairpin oligo probes, with the loop complementary to a specific miRNA that can release the hairpin, were functionalized onto the conic tips. Exciting light in the optical fiber waveguide is optimally coupled to surface plasmonics on the gold surface, which then converges to the conic tips with two orders of magnitude enhancement in intensity. Unlike nanoparticle plasmonics, tip plasmonics can be excited over a large band width and hence the plasmonic enhanced fluorescence signal of the FRET reporter is also focused towards the tip--- and is further enhanced with the periodic resonant grid of the fiber array which gives rise to pronounced standing wave interference patterns. Multiplexing is realized by functionalizing different probes onto one fiber bundle using a photoactivation process.

Rare-earth-doped optical-fiber core deposition using full vapor-phase SPCVD process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnini, A.; Robin, T.; Cadier, B.; Aka, G.; Caurant, D.; Gotter, T.; Guyon, C.; Pinsard, E.; Guitton, P.; Laurent, A.; Montron, R.

2017-02-01

One key parameter in the race toward ever-higher power fiber lasers remains the rare earth doped optical core quality. Modern Large Mode Area (LMA) fibers require a fine radial control of the core refractive index (RI) close to the silica level. These low RI are achieved with multi-component materials that cannot be readily obtained using conventional solution doping based Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD) technology. This paper presents a study of such optical material obtained through a full-vapor phase Surface Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (SPCVD). The SPCVD process generates straight glassy films on the inner surface of a thermally regulated synthetic silica tube under vacuum. The first part of the presented results points out the feasibility of ytterbium-doped aluminosilicate fibers by this process. In the second part we describe the challenge controlling the refractive index throughout the core diameter when using volatile fluorine to create efficient LMA fiber profiles. It has been demonstrated that it is possible to counter-act the loss of fluorine at the center of the core by adjusting the core composition locally. Our materials yielded, when used in optical fibers with numerical apertures ranging from 0.07 to 0.09, power conversion efficiency up to 76% and low background losses below 20 dB/km at 1100nm. Photodarkening has been measured to be similar to equivalent MCVD based fibers. The use of cerium as a co-dopant allowed for a complete mitigation of this laser lifetime detrimental effect. The SPCVD process enables high capacity preforms and is particularly versatile when it comes to radial tailoring of both rare earth doping level and RI. Large core diameter preforms - up to 4mm - were successfully produced.

Range Imaging without Moving Parts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blair, J. Bryan; Scott, V. Stanley, III; Ramos-Izquierdo, Luis

2008-01-01

Range-imaging instruments of a type now under development are intended to generate the equivalent of three-dimensional images from measurements of the round-trip times of flight of laser pulses along known directions. These instruments could also provide information on characteristics of targets, including roughnesses and reflectivities of surfaces and optical densities of such semi-solid objects as trees and clouds. Unlike in prior range-imaging instruments based on times of flight along known directions, there would be no moving parts; aiming of the laser beams along the known directions would not be accomplished by mechanical scanning of mirrors, prisms, or other optical components. Instead, aiming would be accomplished by using solid-state devices to switch input and output beams along different fiber-optic paths. Because of the lack of moving parts, these instruments could be extraordinarily reliable, rugged, and long-lasting. An instrument of this type would include an optical transmitter that would send out a laser pulse along a chosen direction to a target. An optical receiver coaligned with the transmitter would measure the temporally varying intensity of laser light reflected from the target to determine the distance and surface characteristics of the target. The transmitter would be a combination of devices for generating precise directional laser illumination. It would include a pulsed laser, the output of which would be coupled into a fiber-optic cable with a fan-out and solid-state optical switches that would enable switching of the laser beam onto one or more optical fibers terminated at known locations in an array on a face at the focal plane of a telescope. The array would be imaged by the telescope onto the target space. The receiver optical system could share the aforementioned telescope with the transmitter or could include a separate telescope aimed in the same direction as that of the transmitting telescope. In either case, light reflected from the target would be focused by the receiver optical system onto an array of optical fibers matching the array in the transmitter. These optical fibers would couple the received light to one or more photodetector( s). Optionally, the receiver could include solid-state optical switches for choosing which optical fiber(s) would couple light to the photodetector(s). This instrument architecture is flexible and can be optimized for a wide variety of applications and levels of performance. For example, it is scalable to any number of pixels and pixel resolutions and is compatible with a variety of ranging and photodetection methodologies, including, for example, ranging by use of modulated (including pulsed and encoded) light signals. The use of fixed arrays of optical fibers to generate controlled illumination patterns would eliminate the mechanical complexity and much of the bulk of optomechanical scanning assemblies. Furthermore, digital control of the selection of the fiber-optic pathways for the transmitted beams could afford capabilities not seen in previous three-dimensional range-imaging systems. Instruments of this type could be specialized for use as, for example, proximity detectors, three-dimensional robotic vision systems, airborne terrain-mapping systems, and inspection systems.

Blood glucose measurement in vivo using hollow-fiber based, mid-infrared ATR probe with multi-reflection prism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kino, Saiko; Omori, Suguru; Matsuura, Yuji

2016-03-01

An attenuated-total-reflection (ATR), mid-infrared spectroscopy system that consists of hollow optical fibers, a trapezoidal multi-reflection ATR prism, and a conventional FT-IR spectrometer has been developed to measure blood glucose levels. Owing to the low transmission loss and high flexibility of the hollow-optical fiber, the system can measure any sites of the human body where blood capillaries are close to the surface of mucosa, such as inner lips. Using a multi-reflection prism brought about higher sensitivity, and the flat and wide contact surface of the prism resulted in higher measurement reproducibility. The results of in-vivo measurement of human inner lips showed the feasibility of the proposed system, and the measurement errors were within 20%.

A packaged, low-cost, robust optical fiber strain sensor based on small cladding fiber sandwiched within periodic polymer grating.

PubMed

Chiang, Chia-Chin; Li, Chein-Hsing

2014-06-02

In the present study, a novel packaged long-period fiber grating (PLPFG) strain sensor is first presented. The MEMS process was utilized to fabricate the packaged optical fiber strain sensor. The sensor structure consisted of etched optical fiber sandwiched between two layers of thick photoresist SU-8 3050 and then packaged with poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) polymer material to construct the PLPFG strain sensor. The PDMS packaging material was used to prevent the glue effect, wherein glue flows into the LPFG structure and reduces coupling strength, in the surface bonding process. Because the fiber grating was packaged with PDMS material, it was effectively protected and made robust. The resonance attenuation dip of PLPFG grows when it is loading. This study explored the size effect of the grating period and fiber diameter of PLPFG via tensile testing. The experimental results found that the best strain sensitivity of the PLPFG strain sensor was -0.0342 dB/με, and that an R2 value of 0.963 was reached.

A novel all-fiber optic flow cytometer technology for Point-of Care and Remote Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mermut, Ozzy

Traditional flow cytometry designs tend to be bulky systems with a complex optical-fluidic sub-system and often require trained personnel for operation. This makes them difficult to readily translate to remote site testing applications. A new compact and portable fiber-optic flow cell (FOFC) technology has been developed at INO. We designed and engineered a specialty optical fiber through which a square hole is transversally bored by laser micromachining. A capillary is fitted into that hole to flow analyte within the fiber square cross-section for detection and counting. With demonstrated performance benchmarks potentially comparable to commercial flow cytometers, our FOFC provides several advantages compared to classic free-space con-figurations, e.g., sheathless flow, low cost, reduced number of optical components, no need for alignment (occurring in the fabrication process only), ease-of-use, miniaturization, portability, and robustness. This sheathless configuration, based on a fiber optic flow module, renders this cytometer amenable to space-grade microgravity environments. We present our recent results for an all-fiber approach to achieve a miniature FOFC to translate flow cytometry from bench to a portable, point-of-care device for deployment in remote settings. Our unique fiber approach provides the capability to illuminate a large surface with a uniform intensity distri-bution, independently of the initial shape originating from the light source, and without loss of optical power. The CVs and sensitivities are measured and compared to industry benchmarks. Finally, integration of LEDs enable several advantages in cost, compactness, and wavelength availability.

Fiber Optic Sensor Embedment Study for Multi-Parameter Strain Sensing

PubMed Central

Drissi-Habti, Monssef; Raman, Venkadesh; Khadour, Aghiad; Timorian, Safiullah

2017-01-01

The fiber optic sensors (FOSs) are commonly used for large-scale structure monitoring systems for their small size, noise free and low electrical risk characteristics. Embedded fiber optic sensors (FOSs) lead to micro-damage in composite structures. This damage generation threshold is based on the coating material of the FOSs and their diameter. In addition, embedded FOSs are aligned parallel to reinforcement fibers to avoid micro-damage creation. This linear positioning of distributed FOS fails to provide all strain parameters. We suggest novel sinusoidal sensor positioning to overcome this issue. This method tends to provide multi-parameter strains in a large surface area. The effectiveness of sinusoidal FOS positioning over linear FOS positioning is studied under both numerical and experimental methods. This study proves the advantages of the sinusoidal positioning method for FOS in composite material’s bonding. PMID:28333117

Theoretical modeling of a coupled plasmon waveguide resonance sensor based on multimode optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Kun; Xue, Meng; Jiang, Junfeng; Wang, Tao; Chang, Pengxiang; Liu, Tiegen

2018-03-01

A coupled plasmon waveguide resonance (CPWR) sensor based on metal/dielectric-coated step index multimode optical fiber is proposed. Theoretical simulations using the four-layer Fresnel equations based on a bi-dimensional optical fiber model were implemented on four structures: Ag-ZnO, Au-ZnO, Ag-TiO2 and Au-TiO2. By controlling the thickness of dielectric layer, we managed to manipulate the CPWR resonance wavelengths. When a CPWR resonance dip is in the short wavelength region, it is insensitive to the change of surrounding refractive index (SRI) and can be used as a reference to improve the sensing accuracy of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) mode. With the increase of the thickness of the dielectric layer, the CPWR resonance dips shift to longer wavelength and the corresponding sensitivities increase. When the 1st CPWR resonance wavelength is near 1550 nm and SRI is around 1.333, the sensitivities of four structures reach 1360.61 nm/RIU, 1375.76 nm/RIU, 1048.48 nm/RIU and 1015.15 nm/RIU, respectively. The values are close to that of the conventional SPR optical fiber sensor while the spectral bandwidths of the optical fiber CPWR sensors are narrower.

Distribution automation applications of fiber optics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kirkham, Harold; Johnston, A.; Friend, H.

1989-01-01

Motivations for interest and research in distribution automation are discussed. The communication requirements of distribution automation are examined and shown to exceed the capabilities of power line carrier, radio, and telephone systems. A fiber optic based communication system is described that is co-located with the distribution system and that could satisfy the data rate and reliability requirements. A cost comparison shows that it could be constructed at a cost that is similar to that of a power line carrier system. The requirements for fiber optic sensors for distribution automation are discussed. The design of a data link suitable for optically-powered electronic sensing is presented. Empirical results are given. A modeling technique that was used to understand the reflections of guided light from a variety of surfaces is described. An optical position-indicator design is discussed. Systems aspects of distribution automation are discussed, in particular, the lack of interface, communications, and data standards. The economics of distribution automation are examined.

Side-polished fiber immunosensor based on surface plasmon resonance for detection of Legionella pneumophila

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsao, Yu-Chia; Yang, Yi-Wen; Tsai, Woo-Hu; Yan, Tsong-Rong

2008-02-01

Side-polished fiber immunosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) onto self-assembled protein A layer was proposed for the detection of Legionella pneumophila. A self-assembled protein A layer on gold (Au) surface was fabricated by adsorbing a mixture of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and activated by N-Ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/ N-Hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS). The formation of self-assembled protein A and gold layer on side-polished surface and the binding of antibody and antigen in series were confirmed by SPR response on spectrum. The binding protein A layer can improve the sensitivity, which indirectly supports the configurations that antibody layer is immobilized on the binding protein A layer with a well-ordered orientation. The surface morphology analyses of self-assembled protein A layer on Au substrate and monoclonal antibody against L. pneumophila immobilized on protein A were demonstrated by SPR dip shifts on optical spectrum analyzer. The SPR fiber immunosensor for detection of L. pneumophila was developed and the detection limit was 10 CFU/ml with the SPR dip shift in wavelength from 1070 to 1105nm. The current fabrication technique of a SPR immunosensor using optical fiber for the detection of Legionella pneumophila could be applied to construct other biosensor.

Field test investigation of high sensitivity fiber optic seismic geophone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Meng; Min, Li; Zhang, Xiaolei; Zhang, Faxiang; Sun, Zhihui; Li, Shujuan; Wang, Chang; Zhao, Zhong; Hao, Guanghu

2017-10-01

Seismic reflection, whose measured signal is the artificial seismic waves ,is the most effective method and widely used in the geophysical prospecting. And this method can be used for exploration of oil, gas and coal. When a seismic wave travelling through the Earth encounters an interface between two materials with different acoustic impedances, some of the wave energy will reflect off the interface and some will refract through the interface. At its most basic, the seismic reflection technique consists of generating seismic waves and measuring the time taken for the waves to travel from the source, reflect off an interface and be detected by an array of geophones at the surface. Compared to traditional geophones such as electric, magnetic, mechanical and gas geophone, optical fiber geophones have many advantages. Optical fiber geophones can achieve sensing and signal transmission simultaneously. With the development of fiber grating sensor technology, fiber bragg grating (FBG) is being applied in seismic exploration and draws more and more attention to its advantage of anti-electromagnetic interference, high sensitivity and insensitivity to meteorological conditions. In this paper, we designed a high sensitivity geophone and tested its sensitivity, based on the theory of FBG sensing. The frequency response range is from 10 Hz to 100 Hz and the acceleration of the fiber optic seismic geophone is over 1000pm/g. sixteen-element fiber optic seismic geophone array system is presented and the field test is performed in Shengli oilfield of China. The field test shows that: (1) the fiber optic seismic geophone has a higher sensitivity than the traditional geophone between 1-100 Hz;(2) The low frequency reflection wave continuity of fiber Bragg grating geophone is better.

Chalcogenide fiber-optic SPR chemical sensor with MoS2 monolayer, polymer clad, and polythiophene layer in NIR using selective ray launching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Anuj K.; Kaur, Baljinder

2018-07-01

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based chalcogenide fiber-optic sensor with polymer clad and MoS2 monolayer is simulated and analyzed in near infrared (NIR) for detection of mixture of alcohols (ethanol and methanol) dissolved in water solution. The proposed fiber optic sensor is analyzed under angular interrogation method, which is based on selective ray (on-axis) launching of monochromatic light into the fiber core at varying angle followed by measuring the loss of power (in dB) after passing through the SPR probe region. The performance of the sensor is analyzed in terms of its figure of merit (FOM). The sensor's specificity towards alcohols along with considerably larger FOM is achieved by utilizing a polythiophene (PT) layer. The results indicate that longer NIR wavelength (λ) provides superior sensing performance. The sensor's performance is better for larger volume fraction of methanol in the water solution. The proposed fiber optic SPR sensor has the capability of providing much greater FOM compared with the previously-reported SPR sensors.

Biological natural retting for determining the hierarchical structuration of banana fibers.

PubMed

Gañán, Piedad; Zuluaga, Robin; Velez, Juan Manuel; Mondragon, Iñaki

2004-10-20

Extraction processes of natural fibers can be performed by different procedures that include mechanical, chemical and biological methods. Each method presents different advantages or drawbacks according to the amount of fiber produced or the quality and properties of fiber bundles obtained. In this study, biological natural retting was satisfactorily used for obtaining banana fibers from plant bunches. However, the most important contribution of this work refers to the description of the hierarchical microstructural ordering present in banana fiber bundles in both bundle surface and inner region. The chemical composition of banana fiber bundles has been evaluated by FTIR spectroscopy. Through exposure time, the fiber bundle configuration presents small variations in composition. The main changes are related to hemicellulose and pectins as they conform the outer walls of the bundle. Hierarchical helicoidal ordering in the bundle surface as well as orientation on the longitudinal axis of the bundle were observed by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for 3-4 microm surface fibers and 10-15 microm inner elementary fibers, respectively. With increasing exposure time, fiber bundle walls lose integrity, as reflected in their mechanical behavior.

Noncontact photoacoustic imaging by using a modified optical-fiber Michelson interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Jiao; Gao, Yingzhe; Ma, Zhenhe; Wang, Bo; Wang, Yi

2016-03-01

We demonstrate a noncontact photoacoustic imaging (PAI) system in which an optical interferometer is used for ultrasound detection. The system is based on a modified optical-fiber Michelson interferometer that measures the surface displacement caused by photoacoustic pressure. A synchronization method is utilized to keep its high sensitivity to reduce the influence of ambient vibrations. The system is experimentally verified by imaging of a phantom. The experimental results indicate that the proposed system can be used for noncontact PAI with high resolution and high bandwidth.

Using Monoclonal Antibody to Determine Lead Ions with a Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Fiber-optic Biosensor

PubMed Central

Lin, Tsao-Jen; Chung, Mon-Fu

2008-01-01

A novel reflection-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) fiber­optic probe has been developed to determine the heavy metal lead ion concentration. Monoclonal antibody as the detecting probe containing massive amino groups to capture Pb(II)-chelate complexes was immobilized onto gold nanoparticle-modified optical fiber (NMAuOF). The optimal immobilizing conditions of monoclonal antibody on to the NMAuOF are 189 μg/mL in pH7.4 PBS for 2 h at 25°C. The absorbability of the functionalized NMAuOF sensor increases to 12.2 % upon changing the Pb(II)-EDTA level from 10 to 100 ppb with a detection limit of 0.27 ppb. The sensor retains 92.7 % of its original activity and gives reproducible results after storage in 5% D-(+)-Trehalose dehydrate solution at 4°C for 35 days. In conclusion, the monoclonal antibody-functionalized NMAuOF sensor shows a promising result for determining the concentration of Pb(II) with high sensitivity. PMID:27879723

Recent progress on mid-IR sensing with optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kellner, Robert A.; Gobel, R.; Goetz, R.; Lendl, B.; Edl-Mizaikoff, B.; Tacke, Maurus; Katzir, Abraham

1995-09-01

Chemical sensors are analytical systems for the evaluation of compound- or ion-specific or - selective signals produced by specific or selective chemical reactions taking place at the interface between the chemically modified sensor surface and the substrate. The well known electrochemical sensing schemes have greatly contributed that sensors are considered now as the 'third supporting pillar of analytical chemistry' besides chromatography and spectroscopy. The aim of this paper is to describe the novel capabilities of chemical modified IR-transparent fibers as chemical IR-sensors for the on-line analysis of chlorinated hydrocarbons and organic compounds in aqueous solutions and gaseous mixtures, glucose, and sucrose in aqueous solution as developed in our laboratory. Moreover, the relative merits of this new method wil be depicted in comparison to other sensing techniques. Optical fiber sensors are novel analysis systems, based on molecular spectroscopy in the UV/VIS/IR-range. They benefit from the tremendous development in the field of optical fibers, an offspring of the telecommunication industry and the electronic revolution during the last few years. With the development of new materials besides the well known quartz fibers for the UV/VIS/NIR-range the optical window for fiber optic sensors was enlarged from 0,2 to 20 micrometers recently. The fiber length was increased recently to up to 2 meters for silver halides and approximately 10 meters for chalcogenides. New applications for environmental, food, and clinical sensing as well as process analysis are the driving force for modern research in IR-optical fiber sensors using mainly sapphire (Al2O3), chalcogenide (As-Se-Te) and silver halide (AgBr/AgCl) fibers and flow injection analysis (FIA) systems. Few representative examples for each of the various optical sensor types will be presented. Particular attention will be given to the use of silver halide fibers for the simultaneous determination of traces of chlorinated hydrocarbons in water and to FIA-systems for the process analysis of beverages.

Vertical Strain Measured in the Mississippi River Delta Using Borehole Optical Fiber Strainmeters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatfield, W.; Allison, M. A.; Bridgeman, J.; Dixon, T. H.; Elliott, D.; Steckler, M. S.; Tornqvist, T. E.; Williams, K.; Wyatt, F. K.; Zumberge, M. A.

2017-12-01

Three boreholes in the Mississippi River Delta, at a site 2 km from the river near Myrtle Grove, Louisiana, have been instrumented with optical fiber strainmeters. The boreholes extend to depths of 9 m, 24 m, and 37 m. Each contains an optical fiber strainmeter that records the displacement between a steel surface casing and a termination fixture cemented into the bottom of each borehole. The strainmeters consist of an optical fiber cable stretched to a length 0.2% longer than its unstressed condition. An optical interferometer is formed between each sensing fiber and a second optical fiber of equal length wrapped on a reference mandrel housed in a sonde in the wellhead casing. This arrangement relaxes stability requirements on the light source. A signal processing unit samples the interference fringe signals 50,000 times per second and calculates the optical phase shift, providing a displacement record precise to a few nm or strain sensitivity of better than 1 nanostrain. The sensors operate from solar power and transmit the data (decimated to 20 samples per second) to an archiving system via a cell phone modem. To mitigate against the effects of temperature variations, a second optical fiber sensor with a different temperature is operated in parallel with the first, sharing the same cable and processing sonde. Records from the two fibers allow the separation of optical length changes caused by temperature from the earth strain. The three individual systems provide an unprecedented measure of soil compaction. Over short periods we observe sub-micron signals such as teleseisms, and over the long term we have observed stability at the tenths of a mm level. The site has shown no compaction or subsidence greater than a few tenths of a mm over the last year, highlighting the value of strainmeters over other techniques that can not resolve such small signals. Two of the sensors began operating in July of 2016, the third began operation in May of 2017.

An investigation of interface transferring mechanism of surface-bonded fiber Bragg grating sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Rujun; Fu, Kunkun; Chen, Tian

2017-08-01

Surface-bonded fiber Bragg grating sensor has been widely used in measuring strain in materials. The existence of fiber Bragg grating sensor affects strain distribution of the host material, which may result in a decrease in strain measurement accuracy. To improve the measurement accuracy, a theoretical model of strain transfer from the host material to optical fiber was developed, incorporating the influence of the fiber Bragg grating sensor. Subsequently, theoretical predictions were validated by comparing with data from finite element analysis and the existing experiment [F. Ansari and Y. Libo, J. Eng. Mech. 124(4), 385-394 (1998)]. Finally, the effect of parameters of fiber Bragg grating sensors on the average strain transfer rate was discussed.

Microstructured optical fiber photonic wires with subwavelength core diameter.

PubMed

Lizé, Yannick; Mägi, Eric; Ta'eed, Vahid; Bolger, Jeremy; Steinvurzel, Paul; Eggleton, Benjamin

2004-07-12

We demonstrate fabrication of robust, low-loss silica photonic wires using tapered microstructured silica optical fiber. The fiber is tapered by a factor of fifty while retaining the internal structure and leaving the air holes completely open. The air holes isolate the core mode from the surrounding environment, making it insensitive to surface contamination and contact leakage, suggesting applications as nanowires for photonic circuits . We describe a transition between two different operation regimes of our photonic wire from the embedded regime, where the mode is isolated from the environment, to the evanescent regime, where more than 70% of the mode intensity can propagate outside of the fiber. Interesting dispersion and nonlinear properties are identified.

Cartilage microindentation using cylindrical and spherical optical fiber indenters with integrated Bragg gratings as force sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marchi, G.; Canti, O.; Baier, V.; Micallef, W.; Hartmann, B.; Alberton, P.; Aszodi, A.; Clausen-Schaumann, H.; Roths, J.

2018-02-01

Fiber optic microindentation sensors that have the potential to be integrated into arthroscopic instruments and to allow localizing degraded articular cartilage are presented in this paper. The indenters consist of optical fibers with integrated Bragg gratings as force sensors. In a basic configuration, the tip of the fiber optic indenter consists of a cleaved fiber end, forming a cylindrical flat punch indenter geometry. When using this indenter geometry, high stresses at the edges of the cylinder are present, which can disrupt the tissue structure. This is avoided with an improved version of the indenter. A spherical indenter tip that is formed by melting the end of the glass fiber. The spherical fiber tip shows the additional advantage of strongly reducing reflections from the fiber end. This allows a reduction of the length of the fiber optic sensor element from 65 mm of the flat punch type to 27 mm of the spherical punch. In order to compare the performance of both indenter types, in vitro stress-relaxation indentation experiments were performed on bovine articular cartilage with both indenter types, to assess biomechanical properties of bovine articular cartilage. For indentation depths between 60 μm and 300 μm, the measurements with both indenter types agreed very well with each other. This shows that both indenter geometries are suitable for microindentation measuremnts . The spherical indenter however has the additional advantage that it minimizes the risk to damage the surface of the tissue and has less than half dimensions than the flat indenter.

Multi-material optoelectronic fiber devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sorin, F.; Yan, Wei; Volpi, Marco; Page, Alexis G.; Nguyen Dang, Tung; Qu, Y.

2017-05-01

The recent ability to integrate materials with different optical and optoelectronic properties in prescribed architectures within flexible fibers is enabling novel opportunities for advanced optical probes, functional surfaces and smart textiles. In particular, the thermal drawing process has known a series of breakthroughs in recent years that have expanded the range of materials and architectures that can be engineered within uniform fibers. Of particular interest in this presentation will be optoelectronic fibers that integrate semiconductors electrically addressed by conducting materials. These long, thin and flexible fibers can intercept optical radiation, localize and inform on a beam direction, detect its wavelength and even harness its energy. They hence constitute ideal candidates for applications such as remote and distributed sensing, large-area optical-detection arrays, energy harvesting and storage, innovative health care solutions, and functional fabrics. To improve performance and device complexity, tremendous progresses have been made in terms of the integrated semiconductor architectures, evolving from large fiber solid-core, to sub-hundred nanometer thin-films, nano-filaments and even nanospheres. To bridge the gap between the optoelectronic fiber concept and practical applications however, we still need to improve device performance and integration. In this presentation we will describe the materials and processing approaches to realize optoelectronic fibers, as well as give a few examples of demonstrated systems for imaging as well as light and chemical sensing. We will then discuss paths towards practical applications focusing on two main points: fiber connectivity, and improving the semiconductor microstructure by developing scalable approaches to make fiber-integrated single-crystal nanowire based devices.

Optical Detection of Ketoprofen by Its Electropolymerization on an Indium Tin Oxide-Coated Optical Fiber Probe.

PubMed

Bogdanowicz, Robert; Niedziałkowski, Paweł; Sobaszek, Michał; Burnat, Dariusz; Białobrzeska, Wioleta; Cebula, Zofia; Sezemsky, Petr; Koba, Marcin; Stranak, Vitezslav; Ossowski, Tadeusz; Śmietana, Mateusz

2018-04-27

In this work an application of optical fiber sensors for real-time optical monitoring of electrochemical deposition of ketoprofen during its anodic oxidation is discussed. The sensors were fabricated by reactive magnetron sputtering of indium tin oxide (ITO) on a 2.5 cm-long core of polymer-clad silica fibers. ITO tuned in optical properties and thickness allows for achieving a lossy-mode resonance (LMR) phenomenon and it can be simultaneously applied as an electrode in an electrochemical setup. The ITO-LMR electrode allows for optical monitoring of changes occurring at the electrode during electrochemical processing. The studies have shown that the ITO-LMR sensor’s spectral response strongly depends on electrochemical modification of its surface by ketoprofen. The effect can be applied for real-time detection of ketoprofen. The obtained sensitivities reached over 1400 nm/M (nm·mg −1 ·L) and 16,400 a.u./M (a.u.·mg −1 ·L) for resonance wavelength and transmission shifts, respectively. The proposed method is a valuable alternative for the analysis of ketoprofen within the concentration range of 0.25⁻250 μg mL −1 , and allows for its determination at therapeutic and toxic levels. The proposed novel sensing approach provides a promising strategy for both optical and electrochemical detection of electrochemical modifications of ITO or its surface by various compounds.

Supermodes in Coupled Multi-Core Waveguide Structures

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-01

and therefore can be treated as linear polarization (LP) modes. In essence, the LP modes are scalar approximations of the vector mode fields and contain...field, including the discovery of optical discrete solitons , Bragg and vector solitons in fibers, nonlinear surface waves, and the discovery of self...increased for an isolated core, it can guide high-order modes. For optical fibers with low re- fractive index contrast, the vector modes are weakly guided

Multiplexed neural recording along a single optical fiber via optical reflectometry

PubMed Central

Rodriques, Samuel G.; Marblestone, Adam H.; Scholvin, Jorg; Dapello, Joel; Sarkar, Deblina; Mankin, Max; Gao, Ruixuan; Wood, Lowell; Boyden, Edward S.

2016-01-01

Abstract. We introduce the design and theoretical analysis of a fiber-optic architecture for neural recording without contrast agents, which transduces neural electrical signals into a multiplexed optical readout. Our sensor design is inspired by electro-optic modulators, which modulate the refractive index of a waveguide by applying a voltage across an electro-optic core material. We estimate that this design would allow recording of the activities of individual neurons located at points along a 10-cm length of optical fiber with 40-μm axial resolution and sensitivity down to 100  μV using commercially available optical reflectometers as readout devices. Neural recording sites detect a potential difference against a reference and apply this potential to a capacitor. The waveguide serves as one of the plates of the capacitor, so charge accumulation across the capacitor results in an optical effect. A key concept of the design is that the sensitivity can be improved by increasing the capacitance. To maximize the capacitance, we utilize a microscopic layer of material with high relative permittivity. If suitable materials can be found—possessing high capacitance per unit area as well as favorable properties with respect to toxicity, optical attenuation, ohmic junctions, and surface capacitance—then such sensing fibers could, in principle, be scaled down to few-micron cross-sections for minimally invasive neural interfacing. We study these material requirements and propose potential material choices. Custom-designed multimaterial optical fibers, probed using a reflectometric readout, may, therefore, provide a powerful platform for neural sensing. PMID:27194640

Optical fiber ultrasound transmitter with electrospun carbon nanotube-polymer composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poduval, Radhika K.; Noimark, Sacha; Colchester, Richard J.; Macdonald, Thomas J.; Parkin, Ivan P.; Desjardins, Adrien E.; Papakonstantinou, Ioannis

2017-05-01

All-optical ultrasound transducers are promising for imaging applications in minimally invasive surgery. In these devices, ultrasound is transmitted and received through laser modulation, and they can be readily miniaturized using optical fibers for light delivery. Here, we report optical ultrasound transmitters fabricated by electrospinning an absorbing polymer composite directly onto the end-face of optical fibers. The composite coating consisting of an aqueous dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in polyvinyl alcohol was directly electrospun onto the cleaved surface of a multimode optical fiber and subsequently dip-coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This formed a uniform nanofibrous absorbing mesh over the optical fiber end-face wherein the constituent MWCNTs were aligned preferentially along individual nanofibers. Infiltration of the PDMS through this nanofibrous mesh onto the underlying substrate was observed and the resulting composites exhibited high optical absorption (>97%). Thickness control from 2.3 μm to 41.4 μm was obtained by varying the electrospinning time. Under laser excitation with 11 μJ pulse energy, ultrasound pressures of 1.59 MPa were achieved at 1.5 mm from the coatings. On comparing the electrospun ultrasound transmitters with a dip-coated reference fabricated using the same constituent materials and possessing identical optical absorption, a five-fold increase in the generated pressure and wider bandwidth was observed. The electrospun transmitters exhibited high optical absorption, good elastomer infiltration, and ultrasound generation capability in the range of pressures used for clinical pulse-echo imaging. All-optical ultrasound probes with such transmitters fabricated by electrospinning could be well-suited for incorporation into catheters and needles for diagnostics and therapeutic applications.

Diffractive optics development using a modified stack-and-draw technique.

PubMed

Pniewski, Jacek; Kasztelanic, Rafal; Nowosielski, Jedrzej M; Filipkowski, Adam; Piechal, Bernard; Waddie, Andrew J; Pysz, Dariusz; Kujawa, Ireneusz; Stepien, Ryszard; Taghizadeh, Mohammad R; Buczynski, Ryszard

2016-06-20

We present a novel method for the development of diffractive optical elements (DOEs). Unlike standard surface relief DOEs, the phase shift is introduced through a refractive index variation achieved by using different types of glass. For the fabrication of DOEs we use a modified stack-and-draw technique, originally developed for the fabrication of photonic crystal fibers, resulting in a completely flat element that is easy to integrate with other optical components. A proof-of-concept demonstration of the method is presented-a two-dimensional binary optical phase grating in the form of a square chessboard with a pixel size of 5 μm. Two types of glass are used: low refractive index silicate glass NC21 and high refractive index lead-silicate glass F2. The measured diffraction characteristics of the fabricated component are presented and it is shown numerically and experimentally that such a DOE can be used as a fiber interconnector that couples light from a small-core fiber into the several cores of a multicore fiber.

Fiber-optic-based laser vapor screen flow visualization system for aerodynamic research in larger scale subsonic and transonic wind tunnels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erickson, Gary E.; Inenaga, Andrew S.

1994-01-01

Laser vapor screen (LVS) flow visualization systems that are fiber-optic based were developed and installed for aerodynamic research in the Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel and the Langley 7- by 10-Foot High Speed Tunnel. Fiber optics are used to deliver the laser beam through the plenum shell that surrounds the test section of each facility and to the light-sheet-generating optics positioned in the ceiling window of the test section. Water is injected into the wind tunnel diffuser section to increase the relative humidity and promote condensation of the water vapor in the flow field about the model. The condensed water vapor is then illuminated with an intense sheet of laser light to reveal features of the flow field. The plenum shells are optically sealed; therefore, video-based systems are used to observe and document the flow field. Operational experience shows that the fiber-optic-based systems provide safe, reliable, and high-quality off-surface flow visualization in smaller and larger scale subsonic and transonic wind tunnels. The design, the installation, and the application of the Langley Research Center (LaRC) LVS flow visualization systems in larger scale wind tunnels are highlighted. The efficiency of the fiber optic LVS systems and their insensitivity to wind tunnel vibration, the tunnel operating temperature and pressure variations, and the airborne contaminants are discussed.

Numerous applications of fiber optic evanescent wave Fourier transform infrared (FEW-FTIR) spectroscopy for subsurface structural analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afanasyeva, Natalia I.; Welser, Leslie; Bruch, Reinhard F.; Kano, Angelique; Makhine, Volodymyr

1999-10-01

A new infrared (IR) interferometric method has been developed in conjunction with low-loss, flexible optical fibers, sensors, and probes. This combination of fiber optical sensors and Fourier Transform (FT) spectrometers can be applied to many fields, including (1) noninvasive medical diagnostics of cancer and other different diseases in vivo, (2) minimally invasive bulk diagnostics of tissue, (3) remote monitoring of tissue, chemical processes, and environment, (4) surface analysis of polymers and other materials, (5) characterization of the quality of food, pharmacological products, cosmetics, paper, and other wood-related products, as well as (6) agricultural, forensic, geological, mining, and archeological field measurements. In particular, our nondestructive, fast, compact, portable, remote and highly sensitive diagnostics tools are very promising for subsurface analysis at the molecular level without sample preparation. For example, this technique is ideal for different types of soft porous foams, rough polymers, and rock surfaces. Such surfaces, as well as living tissue, are very difficult to investigate by traditional FTIR methods. We present here FEW-FTIR spectra of polymers, banana and grapefruit peels, and living tissues detected directly at surfaces. In addition, results on the vibrational spectral analysis of normal and pathological skin tissue in the region of 850 - 4000 cm-1 are discussed.

Durability tests of a fiber optic corrosion sensor.

PubMed

Wan, Kai Tai; Leung, Christopher K Y

2012-01-01

Steel corrosion is a major cause of degradation in reinforced concrete structures, and there is a need to develop cost-effective methods to detect the initiation of corrosion in such structures. This paper presents a low cost, easy to use fiber optic corrosion sensor for practical application. Thin iron film is deposited on the end surface of a cleaved optical fiber by sputtering. When light is sent into the fiber, most of it is reflected by the coating. If the surrounding environment is corrosive, the film is corroded and the intensity of the reflected signal drops significantly. In previous work, the sensing principle was verified by various experiments in laboratory and a packaging method was introduced. In this paper, the method of multiplexing several sensors by optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) and optical splitter is introduced, together with the interpretation of OTDR results. The practical applicability of the proposed sensors is demonstrated in a three-year field trial with the sensors installed in an aggressive marine environment. The durability of the sensor against chemical degradation and physical degradation is also verified by accelerated life test and freeze-thaw cycling test, respectively.

Fiber optic and laser sensors IX; Proceedings of the Meeting, Boston, MA, Sept. 3-5, 1991

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Depaula, Ramon P. (Editor); Udd, Eric (Editor)

1991-01-01

The present volume on fiber-optic and laser sensors discusses industrial applications of fiber-optic sensors, fiber-optic temperature sensors, fiber-optic current sensors, fiber-optic pressure/displacement/vibration sensors, and generic fiber-optic systems. Attention is given to a fiber-sensor design for turbine engines, fiber-optic remote Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, near-IR fiber-optic temperature sensors, and an intensity-type fiber-optic electric current sensor. Topics addressed include fiber-optic magnetic field sensors based on the Faraday effect in new materials, diaphragm size and sensitivity for fiber-optic pressure sensors, a microbend pressure sensor for high-temperature environments, and linear position sensing by light exchange between two lossy waveguides. Also discussed are two-mode elliptical-core fiber sensors for measurement of strain and temperature, a fiber-optic interferometric X-ray dosimeter, fiber-optic interferometric sensors using multimode fibers, and optical fiber sensing of corona discharges.

ED08-0016-20

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-01-17

NASA engineer Larry Hudson and Ikhana ground crew member James Smith work on a ground validation test with new fiber optic sensors that led to validation flights on the Ikhana aircraft. NASA Dryden Flight Research Center is evaluating an advanced fiber optic-based sensing technology installed on the wings of NASA's Ikhana aircraft. The fiber optic system measures and displays the shape of the aircraft's wings in flight. There are other potential safety applications for the technology, such as vehicle structural health monitoring. If an aircraft structure can be monitored with sensors and a computer can manipulate flight control surfaces to compensate for stresses on the wings, structural control can be established to prevent situations that might otherwise result in a loss of control.

DNA biosensors implemented on PNA-functionalized microstructured optical fibers Bragg gratings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Candiani, A.; Giannetti, S.; Cucinotta, A.; Bertucci, A.; Manicardi, A.; Konstantaki, M.; Margulis, W.; Pissadakis, S.; Corradini, R.; Selleri, S.

2013-05-01

A novel DNA sensing platform based on a Peptide Nucleic Acid - functionalized Microstructured Optical Fibers gratings has been demonstrated. The inner surface of different MOFs has been functionalized using PNA probes, OligoNucleotides mimic that are well suited for specific DNA target sequences detection. The hybrid sensing systems were tested for optical DNA detection of targets of relevance in biomedical application, using the cystic fibrosis gene mutation, and food-analysis, using the genomic DNA from genetic modified organism soy flour. After the solutions of DNA molecules has been infiltrated inside the fibers capillaries and hybridization has occurred, oligonucleotidefunctionalized gold nanoparticles were infiltrated and used to form a sandwich-like system to achieve signal amplification. Spectral measurements of the reflected signal reveal a clear wavelength shift of the reflected modes when the infiltrated complementary DNA matches with the PNA probes placed on the inner fiber surface. Measurements have also been made using the mismatched DNA solution for the c, containing a single nucleotide polymorphism, showing no significant changes in the reflected spectrum. Several experiments have been carried out demonstrating the reproducibility of the results and the high selectivity of the sensors, showing the simplicity and the potential of this approach.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor Based on Smart Phone Platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yun; Liu, Qiang; Chen, Shimeng; Cheng, Fang; Wang, Hanqi; Peng, Wei

2015-08-01

We demonstrate a fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor based on smart phone platforms. The light-weight optical components and sensing element are connected by optical fibers on a phone case. This SPR adaptor can be conveniently installed or removed from smart phones. The measurement, control and reference channels are illuminated by the light entering the lead-in fibers from the phone’s LED flash, while the light from the end faces of the lead-out fibers is detected by the phone’s camera. The SPR-sensing element is fabricated by a light-guiding silica capillary that is stripped off its cladding and coated with 50-nm gold film. Utilizing a smart application to extract the light intensity information from the camera images, the light intensities of each channel are recorded every 0.5 s with refractive index (RI) changes. The performance of the smart phone-based SPR platform for accurate and repeatable measurements was evaluated by detecting different concentrations of antibody binding to a functionalized sensing element, and the experiment results were validated through contrast experiments with a commercial SPR instrument. This cost-effective and portable SPR biosensor based on smart phones has many applications, such as medicine, health and environmental monitoring.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor Based on Smart Phone Platforms.

PubMed

Liu, Yun; Liu, Qiang; Chen, Shimeng; Cheng, Fang; Wang, Hanqi; Peng, Wei

2015-08-10

We demonstrate a fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor based on smart phone platforms. The light-weight optical components and sensing element are connected by optical fibers on a phone case. This SPR adaptor can be conveniently installed or removed from smart phones. The measurement, control and reference channels are illuminated by the light entering the lead-in fibers from the phone's LED flash, while the light from the end faces of the lead-out fibers is detected by the phone's camera. The SPR-sensing element is fabricated by a light-guiding silica capillary that is stripped off its cladding and coated with 50-nm gold film. Utilizing a smart application to extract the light intensity information from the camera images, the light intensities of each channel are recorded every 0.5 s with refractive index (RI) changes. The performance of the smart phone-based SPR platform for accurate and repeatable measurements was evaluated by detecting different concentrations of antibody binding to a functionalized sensing element, and the experiment results were validated through contrast experiments with a commercial SPR instrument. This cost-effective and portable SPR biosensor based on smart phones has many applications, such as medicine, health and environmental monitoring.

Tapered optical fiber sensor based on localized surface plasmon resonance.

PubMed

Lin, Hsing-Ying; Huang, Chen-Han; Cheng, Gia-Ling; Chen, Nan-Kuang; Chui, Hsiang-Chen

2012-09-10

A tapered fiber localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensor is demonstrated for refractive index sensing and label-free biochemical detection. The sensing strategy relies on the interrogation of the transmission intensity change due to the evanescent field absorption of immobilized gold nanoparticles on the tapered fiber surface. The refractive index resolution based on the interrogation of transmission intensity change is calculated to be 3.2×10⁻⁵ RIU. The feasibility of DNP-functionalized tapered fiber LSPR sensor in monitoring anti-DNP antibody with different concentrations spiked in buffer is examined. Results suggest that the compact sensor can perform qualitative and quantitative biochemical detection in real-time and thus has potential to be used in biomolecular sensing applications.

Layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte coating for surface-enhanced Raman scattering on gold nanostars inside hollow core photonic crystal fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burmistrova, Natalia A.; Bondarenko, Sergei D.; Bratashov, Daniil N.; Shuvalov, Andrei A.; Chibrova, Anastasiya A.; Khlebtsov, Boris N.; Skibina, Julia S.; Goryacheva, Irina Y.

2018-04-01

Photonic crystal fibers with hollow core (HC PCFs) are a specific class of optical fibers characterized by microstructure with periodic holes oriented along fiber. The combination of HC PCF with Raman spectroscopy for biosensors creation is attractive in the terms of the low sample volume, the possibility to increase the integration time without sample degradation and maintaining constant focus during experiments. Here we propose layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte coating of HC PCF inner surface in order to obtain charge-selective absorption of analyte, stabilization of Surface-Enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active gold nanoparticles. Distance between SERS hotspots and glass reduces nonlinear signals from glass, and increases signal-to-noise ratio of SERS spectra.

Applications research in ultrasonic testing of carbon fiber composite based on an optical fiber F-p sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shan, Ning

2016-10-01

Carbon fiber composite is widely applied to the field of aerospace engineering because of its excellent performance. But it will be able to form more defects in the process of manufacturing inevitably on account of unique manufacturing process. Meanwhile it has sophisticated structure and services in the bad environment long time. The existence of defects will be able to cause the sharp decline in component's performance when the defect accumulates to a certain degree. So the reliability and safety test demand of carbon fiber composite is higher and higher. Ultrasonic testing technology is the important means used for characteristics of component inspection of composite materials. Ultrasonic information detection uses acoustic transducer generally. It need coupling agent and is higher demand for the surface of sample. It has narrow frequency band and low test precision. The extrinsic type optical fiber F-P interference cavity structure is designed to this problem. Its optical interference model is studied. The initial length of F-P cavity is designed. The realtime online detection system of carbon fiber composite is established based on optical fiber F-P Ultrasound sensing technology. Finally, the testing experiment study is conducted. The results show that the system can realize real-time online detection of carbon fiber composite's defect effectively. It operates simply and realizes easily. It has low cost and is easy to practical engineering.

Fiber laser cleaning of metal mirror surfaces for optical diagnostic systems of the ITER

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuznetsov, A. P., E-mail: APKuznetsov@mephi.ru; Alexandrova, A. S.; Buzhinsky, O. I.

2015-12-15

The results of experimental studies into efficiency of removal of films with a complex composition from metal mirrors by pulsed fiber laser irradiation are presented. It is shown that the initial reflectivity of optical elements can be restored by the selection of modes of irradiation impacting the surface with the sputtered film. Effective cleaning is performed by radiation with a power density lower than 10{sup 7} W/cm{sup 2}. The removal of contaminations at such a relatively low power density occurs in a solid phase, owing to which the thermal effect on the mirror is insignificant.

Detection of stain formation on teeth by oral antiseptic solution using fiber optic displacement sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman, H. A.; Rahim, H. R. A.; Harun, S. W.; Yasin, M.; Apsari, R.; Ahmad, H.; Wan Abas, W. A. B.

2013-02-01

The application of a simple intensity modulated fiber optic displacement sensor for the detection of stain formation on human teeth is demonstrated. The proposed sensor uses a concentric type bundled plastic optical fiber (POF) as a probe in conjunction with the surfaces of five human teeth as the reflecting targets. Prior to the experiment, the stains were produced extrinsically by soaking the teeth in different concentrations of oral antiseptic solution containing hexetidine. The concentration of the oral antiseptic solution is measured in volume%. For a concentration change from 0% to 80%, the peak voltage decreases exponentially from 1.15 mV to 0.41 mV with a measured resolution of 0.48% and 1.75% for concentration ranges of 0-40% and 40-80%, respectively. The correlation between the detector output and variation in the color of human tooth surface has successfully been examined. Simple in design and low in cost, this sensor can detect color changes due to hexetidine-induced stain on a tooth surface in a fast and convenient way. Thus, this sensor will be very promising in esthetic dentistry, dental color matching techniques, chemical and biomedical applications.

Phosphate-based glass fiber vs. bulk glass: Change in fiber optical response to probe in vitro glass reactivity.

PubMed

Massera, J; Ahmed, I; Petit, L; Aallos, V; Hupa, L

2014-04-01

This paper investigates the effect of fiber drawing on the thermal and structural properties as well as on the glass reactivity of a phosphate glass in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-buffered (TRIS) solution and simulated body fluid (SBF). The changes induced in the thermal properties suggest that the fiber drawing process leads to a weakening and probable re-orientation of the POP bonds. Whereas the fiber drawing did not significantly impact the release of P and Ca, an increase in the release of Na into the solution was noticed. This was probably due to small structural reorientations occurring during the fiber drawing process and to a slight diffusion of Na to the fiber surface. Both the powders from the bulk and the glass fibers formed a Ca-P surface layer when immersed in SBF and TRIS. The layer thickness was higher in the calcium and phosphate supersaturated SBF than in TRIS. This paper for the first time presents the in vitro reactivity and optical response of a phosphate-based bioactive glass (PBG) fiber when immersed in SBF. The light intensity remained constant for the first 48h after which a decrease with three distinct slopes was observed: the first decrease between 48 and 200h of immersion could be correlated to the formation of the Ca-P layer at the fiber surface. After this a faster decrease in light transmission was observed from 200 to ~425h in SBF. SEM analysis suggested that after 200h, the surface of the fiber was fully covered by a thin Ca-P layer which is likely to scatter light. For immersion times longer than ~425h, the thickness of the Ca-P layer increased and thus acted as a barrier to the dissolution process limiting further reduction in light transmission. The tracking of light transmission through the PBG fiber allowed monitoring of the fiber dissolution in vitro. These results are essential in developing new bioactive fiber sensors that can be used to monitor bioresponse in situ. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Compact probing system using remote imaging for industrial plant maintenance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, F.; Nishimura, A.

2014-03-01

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and endoscope observation were combined to design a remote probing device. We use this probing device to inspect a crack of the inner wall of the heat exchanger. Crack inspection requires speed at first, and then it requires accuracy. Once Eddy Current Testing (ECT) finds a crack with a certain signal level, another method should confirm it visually. We are proposing Magnetic particle Testing (MT) using specially fabricated the Magnetic Particle Micro Capsule (MPMC). For LIBS, a multichannel spectrometer and a Q-switch YAG laser were used. Irradiation area is 270 μm, and the pulse energy was 2 mJ. This pulse energy corresponds to 5-2.2 MW/cm2. A composite-type optical fiber was used to deliver both laser energy and optical image. Samples were prepared to heat a zirconium alloy plate by underwater arc welding in order to demonstrate severe accidents of nuclear power plants. A black oxide layer covered the weld surface and white particles floated on water surface. Laser induced breakdown plasma emission was taken into the spectroscope using this optical fiber combined with telescopic optics. As a result, we were able to simultaneously perform spectroscopic measurement and observation. For MT, the MPMC which gathered in the defective area is observed with this fiber. The MPMC emits light by the illumination of UV light from this optical fiber. The size of a defect is estimated with this amount of emission. Such technology will be useful for inspection repair of reactor pipe.

Fiber Tracts of the Medial and Inferior Surfaces of the Cerebrum.

PubMed

Baydin, Serhat; Gungor, Abuzer; Tanriover, Necmettin; Baran, Oguz; Middlebrooks, Erik H; Rhoton, Albert L

2017-02-01

Fiber dissection studies of the cerebrum have focused on the lateral surface. No comparable detailed studies have been done on the medial and inferior surfaces. The object of this study was to examine the fiber tracts, cortical, and subcortical structures of the medial and inferior aspects of the brain important in planning operative approaches along the interhemispheric fissure, parafalcine area, and basal surfaces of the cerebrum. Twenty formalin-fixed human hemispheres (10 brains) were examined by fiber dissection technique under ×6-×40 magnifications. The superior longitudinal fasciculus I, cingulum, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus, optic radiations, tapetum, and callosal fibers were dissected step by step from medial to lateral, exposing the nucleus accumbens, subthalamic nucleus, red nucleus, and central midline structures (fornix, stria medullaris, and stria terminalis). Finally, the central core structures were dissected from medial to lateral. Understanding the fiber network underlying the medial and inferior aspects of the brain is important in surgical planning for approaches along the interhemispheric fissure, parafalcine area, and basal surfaces of the cerebrum. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Metal-Organic Framework Thin Film Coated Optical Fiber Sensors: A Novel Waveguide-Based Chemical Sensing Platform.

PubMed

Kim, Ki-Joong; Lu, Ping; Culp, Jeffrey T; Ohodnicki, Paul R

2018-02-23

Integration of optical fiber with sensitive thin films offers great potential for the realization of novel chemical sensing platforms. In this study, we present a simple design strategy and high performance of nanoporous metal-organic framework (MOF) based optical gas sensors, which enables detection of a wide range of concentrations of small molecules based upon extremely small differences in refractive indices as a function of analyte adsorption within the MOF framework. Thin and compact MOF films can be uniformly formed and tightly bound on the surface of etched optical fiber through a simple solution method which is critical for manufacturability of MOF-based sensor devices. The resulting sensors show high sensitivity/selectivity to CO 2 gas relative to other small gases (H 2 , N 2 , O 2 , and CO) with rapid (

Crescent shaped Fabry-Perot fiber cavity for ultra-sensitive strain measurement.

PubMed

Liu, Ye; Wang, D N; Chen, W P

2016-12-02

Optical Fabry-Perot interferometer sensors based on inner air-cavity is featured with compact size, good robustness and high strain sensitivity, especially when an ultra-thin air-cavity is adopted. The typical shape of Fabry-Perot inner air-cavity with reflection mode of operation is elliptic, with minor axis along with and major axis perpendicular to the fiber length. The first reflection surface is diverging whereas the second one is converging. To increase the visibility of the output interference pattern, the length of major axis should be large for a given cavity length. However, the largest value of the major axis is limited by the optical fiber diameter. If the major axis length reaches the fiber diameter, the robustness of the Fabry-Perot cavity device would be decreased. Here we demonstrate an ultra-thin crescent shaped Fabry-Perot cavity for strain sensing with ultra-high sensitivity and low temperature cross-sensitivity. The crescent-shape cavity consists of two converging reflection surfaces, which provide the advantages of enhanced strain sensitivity when compared with elliptic or D-shaped FP cavity. The device is fabricated by fusion splicing an etched multimode fiber with a single mode fiber, and hence is simple in structure and economic in cost.

Crescent shaped Fabry-Perot fiber cavity for ultra-sensitive strain measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ye; Wang, D. N.; Chen, W. P.

2016-12-01

Optical Fabry-Perot interferometer sensors based on inner air-cavity is featured with compact size, good robustness and high strain sensitivity, especially when an ultra-thin air-cavity is adopted. The typical shape of Fabry-Perot inner air-cavity with reflection mode of operation is elliptic, with minor axis along with and major axis perpendicular to the fiber length. The first reflection surface is diverging whereas the second one is converging. To increase the visibility of the output interference pattern, the length of major axis should be large for a given cavity length. However, the largest value of the major axis is limited by the optical fiber diameter. If the major axis length reaches the fiber diameter, the robustness of the Fabry-Perot cavity device would be decreased. Here we demonstrate an ultra-thin crescent shaped Fabry-Perot cavity for strain sensing with ultra-high sensitivity and low temperature cross-sensitivity. The crescent-shape cavity consists of two converging reflection surfaces, which provide the advantages of enhanced strain sensitivity when compared with elliptic or D-shaped FP cavity. The device is fabricated by fusion splicing an etched multimode fiber with a single mode fiber, and hence is simple in structure and economic in cost.

Expanded beam non-imaging fiber optic connector

DOEpatents

Jannson, Tommasz; Jannson, Joanna; Yeung, Peter

1990-01-01

There is disclosed an expanded beam fiber to fiber connector, based on non-imaging optic principles for coupling light beams from one optical fiber to another. The system consists of two identical connector parts, referred to herein as a collimating part and a concentrating part, each having a preferred partially curved reflective boundary surface for minimizing power loss and surrounding either a hollow space or a space filled with a uniform transparent medium. In one embodiment the boundary is metallic while in a second embodiment the boundary is in the form of an interface allowing total internal reflection. In both the hollow and filled case a lens may be located at the expanded end of both the collimater part and the concentrator part forming the connector. The connector is preferably located in a housing in order to protect and preserve the mechanical stability of the coupler.

Expanded beam non-imaging fiber optic connector

DOEpatents

Jannson, T.; Jannson, J.; Yeung, P.

1990-02-06

There is disclosed an expanded beam fiber to fiber connector, based on non-imaging optic principles for coupling light beams from one optical fiber to another. The system consists of two identical connector parts, referred to herein as a collimating part and a concentrating part, each having a preferred partially curved reflective boundary surface for minimizing power loss and surrounding either a hollow space or a space filled with a uniform transparent medium. In one embodiment the boundary is metallic while in a second embodiment the boundary is in the form of an interface allowing total internal reflection. In both the hollow and filled case a lens may be located at the expanded end of both the collimator part and the concentrator part forming the connector. The connector is preferably located in a housing in order to protect and preserve the mechanical stability of the coupler. 13 figs.

A noncontact force sensor based on a fiber Bragg grating and its application for corrosion measurement.

PubMed

Pacheco, Clara J; Bruno, Antonio C

2013-08-29

A simple noncontact force sensor based on an optical fiber Bragg grating attached to a small magnet has been proposed and built. The sensor measures the force between the magnet and any ferromagnetic material placed within a few millimeters of the sensor. Maintaining the sensor at a constant standoff distance, material loss due to corrosion increases the distance between the magnet and the corroded surface, which decreases the magnetic force. This will decrease the strain in the optical fiber shifting the reflected Bragg wavelength. The measured shift for the optical fiber used was 1.36 nm per Newton. Models were developed to optimize the magnet geometry for a specific sensor standoff distance and for particular corrosion pit depths. The sensor was able to detect corrosion pits on a fuel storage tank bottom with depths in the sub-millimeter range.

A Noncontact Force Sensor Based on a Fiber Bragg Grating and Its Application for Corrosion Measurement

PubMed Central

Pacheco, Clara J.; Bruno, Antonio C.

2013-01-01

A simple noncontact force sensor based on an optical fiber Bragg grating attached to a small magnet has been proposed and built. The sensor measures the force between the magnet and any ferromagnetic material placed within a few millimeters of the sensor. Maintaining the sensor at a constant standoff distance, material loss due to corrosion increases the distance between the magnet and the corroded surface, which decreases the magnetic force. This will decrease the strain in the optical fiber shifting the reflected Bragg wavelength. The measured shift for the optical fiber used was 1.36 nm per Newton. Models were developed to optimize the magnet geometry for a specific sensor standoff distance and for particular corrosion pit depths. The sensor was able to detect corrosion pits on a fuel storage tank bottom with depths in the sub-millimeter range. PMID:23995095

Optical device for measuring a surface characteristic of an object by multi-color interferometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meyer, William V. (Inventor); Smart, Anthony E. (Inventor)

2001-01-01

An interferometer having a light beam source that produces a plurality of separate and distinct wavelengths of light. Optic fibers are used to transport the wavelengths of light toward an object surface and to allow light reflected from the object to pass through a polarizer to improve the polarization ratio of the reflected light to determine a characteristic of the object surface.

Smart-phone based computational microscopy using multi-frame contact imaging on a fiber-optic array.

PubMed

Navruz, Isa; Coskun, Ahmet F; Wong, Justin; Mohammad, Saqib; Tseng, Derek; Nagi, Richie; Phillips, Stephen; Ozcan, Aydogan

2013-10-21

We demonstrate a cellphone based contact microscopy platform, termed Contact Scope, which can image highly dense or connected samples in transmission mode. Weighing approximately 76 grams, this portable and compact microscope is installed on the existing camera unit of a cellphone using an opto-mechanical add-on, where planar samples of interest are placed in contact with the top facet of a tapered fiber-optic array. This glass-based tapered fiber array has ~9 fold higher density of fiber optic cables on its top facet compared to the bottom one and is illuminated by an incoherent light source, e.g., a simple light-emitting-diode (LED). The transmitted light pattern through the object is then sampled by this array of fiber optic cables, delivering a transmission image of the sample onto the other side of the taper, with ~3× magnification in each direction. This magnified image of the object, located at the bottom facet of the fiber array, is then projected onto the CMOS image sensor of the cellphone using two lenses. While keeping the sample and the cellphone camera at a fixed position, the fiber-optic array is then manually rotated with discrete angular increments of e.g., 1-2 degrees. At each angular position of the fiber-optic array, contact images are captured using the cellphone camera, creating a sequence of transmission images for the same sample. These multi-frame images are digitally fused together based on a shift-and-add algorithm through a custom-developed Android application running on the smart-phone, providing the final microscopic image of the sample, visualized through the screen of the phone. This final computation step improves the resolution and also removes spatial artefacts that arise due to non-uniform sampling of the transmission intensity at the fiber optic array surface. We validated the performance of this cellphone based Contact Scope by imaging resolution test charts and blood smears.

Smart-phone based computational microscopy using multi-frame contact imaging on a fiber-optic array

PubMed Central

Navruz, Isa; Coskun, Ahmet F.; Wong, Justin; Mohammad, Saqib; Tseng, Derek; Nagi, Richie; Phillips, Stephen; Ozcan, Aydogan

2013-01-01

We demonstrate a cellphone based contact microscopy platform, termed Contact Scope, which can image highly dense or connected samples in transmission mode. Weighing approximately 76 grams, this portable and compact microscope is installed on the existing camera unit of a cellphone using an opto-mechanical add-on, where planar samples of interest are placed in contact with the top facet of a tapered fiber-optic array. This glass-based tapered fiber array has ∼9 fold higher density of fiber optic cables on its top facet compared to the bottom one and is illuminated by an incoherent light source, e.g., a simple light-emitting-diode (LED). The transmitted light pattern through the object is then sampled by this array of fiber optic cables, delivering a transmission image of the sample onto the other side of the taper, with ∼3× magnification in each direction. This magnified image of the object, located at the bottom facet of the fiber array, is then projected onto the CMOS image sensor of the cellphone using two lenses. While keeping the sample and the cellphone camera at a fixed position, the fiber-optic array is then manually rotated with discrete angular increments of e.g., 1-2 degrees. At each angular position of the fiber-optic array, contact images are captured using the cellphone camera, creating a sequence of transmission images for the same sample. These multi-frame images are digitally fused together based on a shift-and-add algorithm through a custom-developed Android application running on the smart-phone, providing the final microscopic image of the sample, visualized through the screen of the phone. This final computation step improves the resolution and also gets rid of spatial artefacts that arise due to non-uniform sampling of the transmission intensity at the fiber optic array surface. We validated the performance of this cellphone based Contact Scope by imaging resolution test charts and blood smears. PMID:23939637

Quantum sized Ag nanocluster assisted fluorescence enhancement in Tm{sup 3+}-Yb{sup 3+} doped optical fiber beyond plasmonics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chattopadhyay, Rik; Haldar, Arindam; Paul, Mukul C.

2015-12-07

We report a process for enhancing fluorescence emission from conventional rare earth ions in optical fiber by metal nanocluster (MNC) in nonresonant indirect pumping. The process is completely different from formal metal enhanced fluorescence phenomenon as the MNCs are too small in size to support localized surface plasmon and the excitation wavelength is far from plasmon resonance frequency. We used an established theory of two coupled oscillators to explain the simultaneous enhancement of Ytterbium (Yb{sup 3+}) and Thulium (Tm{sup 3+}) emission by silver (Ag) NCs under nonresonant pumping in optical fiber. The fiber is pumped with a 980 nm fiber pigtailedmore » laser diode with input power of 20–100 mW to excite the Yb{sup 3+}. Four times enhancement of Yb{sup 3+} emission of 900–1100 nm and Tm{sup 3+} upconversion emission around 474 nm, 650 nm, and 790 nm is observed in the fiber with Ag NCs.« less

Time-domain fiber loop ringdown sensor and sensor network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaya, Malik

Optical fibers have been mostly used in fiber optic communications, imaging optics, sensing technology, etc. Fiber optic sensors have gained increasing attention for scientific and structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. In this study, fiber loop ringdown (FLRD) sensors were fabricated for scientific, SHM, and sensor networking applications. FLRD biosensors were fabricated for both bulk refractive index (RI)- and surface RI-based DNA sensing and one type of bacteria sensing. Furthermore, the effect of glucose oxidase (GOD) immobilization at the sensor head on sensor performance was evaluated for both glucose and synthetic urine solutions with glucose concentration between 0.1% and 10%. Detection sensitivities of the glucose sensors were achieved as low as 0.05%. For chemical sensing, heavy water, ranging from 97% to 10%, and several elemental solutions were monitored by using the FLRD chemical sensors. Bulk index-based FLRD sensing showed that trace elements can be detected in deionized water. For physical sensing, water and cracking sensors were fabricated and embedded into concrete. A partially-etched single-mode fiber (SMF) was embedded into a concrete bar for water monitoring while a bare SMF without any treatment was directly embedded into another concrete bar for monitoring cracks. Furthermore, detection sensitivities of water and crack sensors were investigated as 10 ml water and 0.5 mm surface crack width, respectively. Additionally fiber loop ringdown-fiber Bragg grating temperature sensors were developed in the laboratory; two sensor units for water, crack, and temperature sensing were deployed into a concrete cube in a US Department of Energy test bed (Miami, FL). Multi-sensor applications in a real concrete structure were accomplished by testing the six FLRD sensors. As a final stage, a sensor network was assembled by multiplexing two or three FLRD sensors in series and parallel. Additionally, two FLRD sensors were combined in series and parallel by using a 2x1 micro-electromechanical system optical switch to control sensors individually. For both configurations, contributions of each sensor to two or three coupled signals were simulated theoretically. Results show that numerous FLRD sensors can be connected in different configurations, and a sensor network can be built up for multi-function sensing applications.

Fiber-optic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for remote label-free sensing of medical device surface contamination.

PubMed

Hassan, Moinuddin; Tan, Xin; Welle, Elissa; Ilev, Ilko

2013-05-01

As a potential major source of biochemical contamination, medical device surfaces are of critical safety concerns in the clinical practice and public health. The development of innovative sensing methods for accurate and real-time detection of medical device surface contamination is essential to protect patients from high risk infection. In this paper, we demonstrate an alternative fiber-optic Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy based sensing approach for remote, non-contact, and label-free detection of biochemical contaminants in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) region. The sensing probe is designed using mid-IR hollow fibers and FTIR measurements are carried out in reflection mode. Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and bacterial endotoxin of different concentrations under thoroughly dry condition are used to evaluate the detection sensitivity. The devised system can identify ≤0.0025% (≤4 × 10(11) molecules) BSA and 0.5% (0.5 EU/ml) endotoxin concentration. The developed sensing approach may be applied to detect various pathogens that pose public health threats.

Fiber-optic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for remote label-free sensing of medical device surface contamination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, Moinuddin; Tan, Xin; Welle, Elissa; Ilev, Ilko

2013-05-01

As a potential major source of biochemical contamination, medical device surfaces are of critical safety concerns in the clinical practice and public health. The development of innovative sensing methods for accurate and real-time detection of medical device surface contamination is essential to protect patients from high risk infection. In this paper, we demonstrate an alternative fiber-optic Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy based sensing approach for remote, non-contact, and label-free detection of biochemical contaminants in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) region. The sensing probe is designed using mid-IR hollow fibers and FTIR measurements are carried out in reflection mode. Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and bacterial endotoxin of different concentrations under thoroughly dry condition are used to evaluate the detection sensitivity. The devised system can identify ≤0.0025% (≤4 × 1011 molecules) BSA and 0.5% (0.5 EU/ml) endotoxin concentration. The developed sensing approach may be applied to detect various pathogens that pose public health threats.

Optical dynamic deformation measurements at translucent materials.

PubMed

Philipp, Katrin; Koukourakis, Nektarios; Kuschmierz, Robert; Leithold, Christoph; Fischer, Andreas; Czarske, Jürgen

2015-02-15

Due to their high stiffness-to-weight ratio, glass fiber-reinforced polymers are an attractive material for rotors, e.g., in the aerospace industry. A fundamental understanding of the material behavior requires non-contact, in-situ dynamic deformation measurements. The high surface speeds and particularly the translucence of the material limit the usability of conventional optical measurement techniques. We demonstrate that the laser Doppler distance sensor provides a powerful and reliable tool for monitoring radial expansion at fast rotating translucent materials. We find that backscattering in material volume does not lead to secondary signals as surface scattering results in degradation of the measurement volume inside the translucent medium. This ensures that the acquired signal contains information of the rotor surface only, as long as the sample surface is rough enough. Dynamic deformation measurements of fast-rotating fiber-reinforced polymer composite rotors with surface speeds of more than 300 m/s underline the potential of the laser Doppler sensor.

Bubble velocity, diameter, and void fraction measurements in a multiphase flow using fiber optic reflectometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Ho-Joon; Chang, Kuang-An; Su, Chin B.; Chen, Chi-Yueh

2008-12-01

A fiber optic reflectometer (FOR) technique featuring a single fiber probe is investigated for its feasibility of measuring the bubble velocity, diameter, and void fraction in a multiphase flow. The method is based on the interference of the scattered signal from the bubble surface with the Fresnel reflection signal from the tip of the optical fiber. Void fraction is obtained with a high accuracy if an appropriate correction is applied to compensate the underestimated measurement value. Velocity information is accurately obtained from the reflected signals before the fiber tip touches the bubble surface so that several factors affecting the traditional dual-tip probes such as blinding, crawling, and drifting effects due to the interaction between the probe and bubbles can be prevented. The coherent signals reflected from both the front and rear ends of a bubble can provide velocity information. Deceleration of rising bubbles and particles due to the presence of the fiber probe is observed when they are very close to the fiber tip. With the residence time obtained, the bubble chord length can be determined by analyzing the coherent signal for velocity determination before the deceleration starts. The bubble diameters are directly obtained from analyzing the signals of the bubbles that contain velocity information. The chord lengths of these bubbles measured by FOR represent the bubble diameters when the bubble shape is spherical or represent the minor axes when the bubble shape is ellipsoidal. The velocity and size of bubbles obtained from the FOR measurements are compared with those obtained simultaneously using a high speed camera.

Platform technologies for hybrid optoelectronic integration and packaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Datta, Madhumita

In order to bring fiber-optics closer to individual home and business services, the optical network components have to be inexpensive and reliable. Integration and packaging of optoelectronic devices holds the key to high-volume low-cost component manufacturing. The goal of this dissertation is to propose, study, and demonstrate various ways to integrate optoelectronic devices on a packaging platform to implement cost-effective, functional optical modules. Two types of hybrid integration techniques have been proposed: flip-chip solder bump bonding for high-density two-dimensional array packaging of surface-emitting devices, and solder preform bonding for fiber-coupled edge-emitting semiconductor devices. For flip-chip solder bump bonding, we developed a simple, inexpensive remetallization process called "electroless plating", which converts the aluminum bond pads of foundry-made complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chips into solder-bondable and wire-bondable gold surfaces. We have applied for a patent on this remetallization technique. For fiber-pigtailed edge-emitting laser modules, we have studied the coupling characteristics of different types of lensed single-mode fibers including semispherically lensed fiber, cylindrically lensed fiber and conically lensed fiber. We have experimentally demonstrated 66% coupling efficiency with semispherically lensed fiber and 50% efficiency with conically lensed fibers. We have proposed and designed a packaging platform on which lensed fibers can be actively aligned to a laser and solder-attached reliably to the platform so that the alignment is retained. We have designed thin-film nichrome heaters on fused quartz platforms as local heat source to facilitate on-board solder alignment and attachment of fiber. The thermal performance of the heaters was simulated using finite element analysis tool ANSYS prior to fabrication. Using the heater's reworkability advantage, we have estimated the shift of the fiber due to solder shrinkage and introduced a pre-correction in the alignment process to restore optimum coupling efficiency close to 50% with conically lensed fibers. We have applied for a patent on this unique active alignment method through the University of Maryland's Technology Commercialization Office. Although we have mostly concentrated on active alignment platforms, we have proposed the idea of combining the passive alignment advantages of silicon optical benches to the on-board heater-assisted active alignment technique. This passive-active alignment process has the potential of cost-effective array packaging of edge-emitting devices.

Radiation properties of two types of luminous textile devices containing plastic optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selm, Bärbel; Rothmaier, Markus

2007-05-01

Luminous textiles have the potential to satisfy a need for thin and flexible light diffusers for treatment of intraoral cancerous tissue. Plastic optical fibers (POF) with diameters of 250 microns and smaller are used to make the textiles luminous. Usually light is supplied to the optical fiber at both ends. On the textile surface light emission occurs in a woven structure via damaged straight POFs, whereas the embroidered structure radiates the light out of macroscopically bent POFs. We compared the optical properties of these two types of textile diffusers using red light laser for the embroidery and light emitting diode (LED) for the woven structure as light sources, and found efficiencies for the luminous areas of the two samples of 19 % (woven) and 32 % (embroidery), respectively. It was shown that the efficiency can be greatly improved using an aluminium backing. Additional scattering layers lower the fluence rate by around 30 %. To analyse the homogeneity we took a photo of the illuminated surface using a 3CCD camera and found, for both textiles, a slightly skewed distribution of the dark and bright pixels. The interquartile range of brightness distribution of the embroidery is more than double as the woven structure.

Distributed sensing of Composite Over-wrapped Pressure Vessel using Fiber-Bragg Gratings at Ambient and Cryogenic Temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant, Joseph

2005-01-01

Fiber Bragg gratings are use to monitor the structural properties of composite pressure vessels. These gratings optically inscribed into the core of a single mode fiber are used as a tool to monitor the stress strain relation in laminate structure. The fiber Bragg sensors are both embedded within the composite laminates and bonded to the surface of the vessel with varying orientations with respect to the carbon fiber in the epoxy matrix. The response of these fiber-optic sensors is investigated by pressurizing the cylinder up to its burst pressure of around 2800 psi. This is done at both ambient and cryogenic temperatures using water and liquid nitrogen. The recorded response is compared with the response from conventional strain gauge also present on the vessel. Additionally, several vessels were tested that had been damaged to simulate different type of events, such as cut tow, delimitation and impact damage.

Distributed Sensing of Composite Over-wrapped Pressure Vessel Using Fiber-Bragg Gratings at Ambient and Cryogenic Temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant, Joseph

2004-01-01

Fiber Bragg gratings are use to monitor the structural properties of composite pressure vessels. These gratings optically inscribed into the core of a single mode fiber are used as a tool to monitor the stress strain relation in laminate structure. The fiber Bragg sensors are both embedded within the composite laminates and bonded to the surface of the vessel with varying orientations with respect to the carbon fiber in the epoxy matrix. The response of these fiber-optic sensors is investigated by pressurizing the cylinder up to its burst pressure of around 2800 psi. This is done at both ambient and cryogenic temperatures using water and liquid nitrogen. The recorded response is compared with the response from conventional strain gauge also present on the vessel. Additionally, several vessels were tested that had been damaged to simulate different type of events, such as cut tow, delimitation and impact damage.

Thermo-Oxidative Stability of Graphite/PMR-15 Composites: Effect of Fiber Surface Modification on Composite Shear Properties

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Madhukar, Madhu S.; Bowles, Kenneth J.; Papadopolous, Demetrios S.

1994-01-01

Experiments were conducted to establish a correlation between the weight loss of a polyimide (PMR- 15) matrix and graphite fibers and the in-plane shear properties of their unidirectional composites subjected to different isothermal aging times up to 1000 hr at 316 C. The role of fiber surface treatment on the composite degradation during the thermo-oxidative aging was investigated by using A4 graphite fibers with three surface modifications: untreated (AU-4), surface treated (AS-4), and surface treated and sized with an epoxy-compatible sizing (AS-4G). The weight loss of the matrix fibers, and composites was determined during the aging. The effect of thermal aging was seen in all the fiber samples in terms of weight loss and reduction in fiber diameter. Calculated values of weight loss fluxes for different surfaces of rectangular unidirectional composite plates showed that the largest weight loss occurred at those cut surfaces where fibers were perpendicular to the surface. Consequently, the largest amount of damage was also noted on these cut surfaces. Optical observation of the neat matrix and composite plates subjected to different aging times revealed that the degradation (such as matrix microcracking and void growth) occurred in a thin surface layer near the specimen edges. The in-plane shear modulus of the composites was unaffected by the fiber surface treatment and the thermal aging. The shear strength of the composites with the untreated fibers was the lowest and it decreased with aging. A fracture surface examination of the composites with untreated fibers suggested that the weak interface allowed the oxidation reaction to proceed along the interface and thus expose the inner material to further oxidation. The results indicated that the fiber-matrix interface affected the composite degradation process during its thermal aging and that the the weak interface accelerated the composite degradation.

Absolute calibration of optical flats

DOEpatents

Sommargren, Gary E.

2005-04-05

The invention uses the phase shifting diffraction interferometer (PSDI) to provide a true point-by-point measurement of absolute flatness over the surface of optical flats. Beams exiting the fiber optics in a PSDI have perfect spherical wavefronts. The measurement beam is reflected from the optical flat and passed through an auxiliary optic to then be combined with the reference beam on a CCD. The combined beams include phase errors due to both the optic under test and the auxiliary optic. Standard phase extraction algorithms are used to calculate this combined phase error. The optical flat is then removed from the system and the measurement fiber is moved to recombine the two beams. The newly combined beams include only the phase errors due to the auxiliary optic. When the second phase measurement is subtracted from the first phase measurement, the absolute phase error of the optical flat is obtained.

A High-Resolution Endoscope of Small Diameter Using Electromagnetically Vibration of Single Fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsunaga, Tadao; Hino, Ryunosuke; Makishi, Wataru; Esashi, Masayoshi; Haga, Yoichi

For high resolution visual inspection in the narrow space of the human body, small diameter endoscope has been developed which utilize electromagnetically vibration of single fiber. Thin endoscopes are effective for inspection in the narrow space of the human body, for example, in the blood vessel, lactiferous duct for detection infiltration of breast cancer, and periodontal gap between gingiva and tooth. This endoscope consists of single optical fiber and photofabricated driving coils. A collimator lens and a cylindrical permanent magnet are fixed on the optical fiber, and the tilted driving coils have been patterned on a 1.08 mm outer diameter thin tube. The fiber is positioned at the center of the tube which is patterned the coils. When an electrical alternating current at the resonance frequency is supplied to the coils, the permanent magnet which is fixed to the fiber is vibrated electromagnetically and scanned one or two dimensionally. This paper reports small diameter endoscope by using electromagnetically vibration of single fiber. Optical coherence tomography imaging has also been carried out with the fabricated endoscope and cross-section image of sub-surface skin of thumb was observed.

Apparatus for synthesis of a solar spectrum

DOEpatents

Sopori, Bhushan L.

1993-01-01

A xenon arc lamp and a tungsten filament lamp provide light beams that together contain all the wavelengths required to accurately simulate a solar spectrum. Suitable filter apparatus selectively direct visible and ultraviolet light from the xenon arc lamp into two legs of a trifurcated randomized fiber optic cable. Infrared light selectively filtered from the tungsten filament lamp is directed into the third leg of the fiber optic cable. The individual optic fibers from the three legs are brought together in a random fashion into a single output leg. The output beam emanating from the output leg of the trifurcated randomized fiber optic cable is extremely uniform and contains wavelengths from each of the individual filtered light beams. This uniform output beam passes through suitable collimation apparatus before striking the surface of the solar cell being tested. Adjustable aperture apparatus located between the lamps and the input legs of the trifurcated fiber optic cable can be selectively adjusted to limit the amount of light entering each leg, thereby providing a means of "fine tuning" or precisely adjusting the spectral content of the output beam. Finally, an adjustable aperture apparatus may also be placed in the output beam to adjust the intensity of the output beam without changing the spectral content and distribution of the output beam.

A line-scan hyperspectral Raman system for spatially offset Raman spectroscopy

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Conventional methods of spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) typically use single-fiber optical measurement probes to slowly and incrementally collect a series of spatially offset point measurements moving away from the laser excitation point on the sample surface, or arrays of multiple fiber ...

Adiabatic tapered optical fiber fabrication in two step etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chenari, Z.; Latifi, H.; Ghamari, S.; Hashemi, R. S.; Doroodmand, F.

2016-01-01

A two-step etching method using HF acid and Buffered HF is proposed to fabricate adiabatic biconical optical fiber tapers. Due to the fact that the etching rate in second step is almost 3 times slower than the previous droplet etching method, terminating the fabrication process is controllable enough to achieve a desirable fiber diameter. By monitoring transmitted spectrum, final diameter and adiabaticity of tapers are deduced. Tapers with losses about 0.3 dB in air and 4.2 dB in water are produced. The biconical fiber taper fabricated using this method is used to excite whispering gallery modes (WGMs) on a microsphere surface in an aquatic environment. So that they are suitable to be used in applications like WGM biosensors.

A microvolume molecularly imprinted polymer modified fiber-optic evanescent wave sensor for bisphenol A determination.

PubMed

Xiong, Yan; Ye, Zhongbin; Xu, Jing; Liu, Yucheng; Zhang, Hanyin

2014-04-01

A fiber-optic evanescent wave sensor for bisphenol A (BPA) determination based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-modified fiber column was developed. MIP film immobilized with BPA was synthesized on the fiber column, and the sensor was then constructed by inserting the optical fiber prepared into a transparent capillary. A microchannel (about 2.0 μL) formed between the fiber and the capillary acted as a flow cell. BPA can be selectively adsorbed online by the MIP film and excited to produce fluorescence by the evanescent wave produced on the fiber core surface. The conditions for BPA enrichment, elution, and fluorescence detection are discussed in detail. The analytical measurements were made at 276 nm/306 nm (λ(ex)/λ(em)), and linearity of 3 × 10(-9)-5 × 10(-6) g mL(-1) BPA, a limit of detection of 1.7 × 10(-9) g mL(-1) BPA (3σ), and a relative standard deviation of 2.4% (n = 5) were obtained. The sensor selectivity and MIP binding measurement were also evaluated. The results indicated that the selectivity and sensitivity of the proposed fiber-optic sensor could be greatly improved by using MIP as a recognition and enrichment element. Further, by modification of the sensing and detection elements on the optical fiber, the proposed sensor showed the advantages of easy fabrication and low cost. The novel sensor configuration provided a platform for monitoring other species by simply changing the light source and sensing elements. The sensor presented has been successfully applied to determine BPA released from plastic products treated at different temperatures.

Seismic damage identification using multi-line distributed fiber optic sensor system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ou, Jinping; Hou, Shuang

2005-06-01

Determination of the actual nonlinear inelastic response mechanisms developed by civil structures such as buildings and bridges during strong earthquakes and post-earthquake damage assessment of these structures represent very difficult challenges for earthquake structural engineers. One of the main reasons is that the traditional sensor can't serve for such a long period to cover an earthquake and the seismic damage location in the structure can't be predicted in advance definitely. It is thought that the seismic damage of reinforced concrete (RC) structure can be related to the maximum response the structure, which can also be related to the cracks on the concrete. A distributed fiber optic sensor was developed to detect the cracks on the reinforced concrete structure under load. Fiber optic couples were used in the sensor system to extend the sensor system's capacity from one random point detection to more. An optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) is employed for interrogation of the sensor signal. Fiber optic sensors are attached on the surface of the concrete by the epoxy glue. By choosing the strength of epoxy, the damage state of the concrete can be responded to the occurrence of the Fresnel scattering in the fiber optic sensor. Experiments involved monotonic loading to failure. Finally, the experimental results in terms of crack detection capability are presented and discussed.

A new technique to transfer metallic nanoscale patterns to small and non-planar surfaces: Application to a fiber optic device for surface enhanced Raman scattering detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smythe, Elizabeth Jennings

This thesis focuses on the development of a bidirectional fiber optic probe for the detection of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). One facet of this fiber-based probe featured an array of coupled optical antennas, which we designed to enhance the Raman signal of nearby analytes. When this array interacted with an analyte, it generated SERS signals specific to the chemical composition of the sample; some of these SERS signals coupled back into the fiber. We used the other facet of the probe to input light into the fiber and collect the SERS signals that coupled into the probe. In this dissertation, the development of the probe is broken into three sections: (i) characterization of antenna arrays, (ii) fabrication of the probe, and (iii) device measurements. In the first section we present a comprehensive study of metallic antenna arrays. We carried out this study to determine the effects of antenna geometry, spacing, and composition on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of a coupled antenna array; the wavelength range and strength of the SPR are functions of the shape and interactions of the antennas. The SPR of the array ultimately amplified the Raman signal of analytes and produced a measurable SERS signal, thus determination of the optimal array geometries for SERS generation was an important first step in the development of the SERS fiber probe. We then introduce a new technique developed to fabricate the SERS fiber probes. This technique involves transferring antenna arrays (created by standard lithographic methods) from a large silicon substrate to a fiber facet. We developed this fabrication technique to bypass many of the limitations presented by previously developed methods for patterning unconventional substrates (i.e. small and/or non-planar substrates), such as focused ion-beam milling and soft lithography. In the third section of this thesis, we present SERS measurements taken with the fiber probe. We constructed a measurement system to couple light into the probe and filter out background noise; this allowed simultaneous detection of multiple chemicals. Antenna array enhancement factor (EF) calculations are shown; these allowed us to determine that the probe efficiently collected SERS signals.

[INVITED] Porphyrin-nanoassembled fiber-optic gas sensor fabrication: Optimization of parameters for sensitive ammonia gas detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korposh, Sergiy; Kodaira, Suguru; Selyanchyn, Roman; Ledezma, Francisco H.; James, Stephen W.; Lee, Seung-Woo

2018-05-01

Highly sensitive fiber-optic ammonia gas sensors were fabricated via layer-by-layer deposition of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and tetrakis(4-sulfophenyl)porphine (TSPP) onto the surface of the core of a hard-clad multimode fiber that was stripped of its polymer cladding. The effects of film thickness, length of sensing area, and depth of evanescent wave penetration were investigated to clearly understand the sensor performance. The sensitivity of the fiber-optic sensor to ammonia was linear in the concentration range of 0.5-50 ppm and the response and recovery times were less than 3 min, with a limit of detection of 0.5 ppm, when a ten-cycle PDDA/TSPP film was assembled on the surface of the core along a 1 cm-long stripped section of the fiber. The sensor's response towards ammonia was also checked under different relative humidity conditions and a simple statistical data treatment approach, principal component analysis, demonstrated the feasibility of ammonia sensing in environmental relative humidity ranging from dry 7% to highly saturated 80%. Penetration depths of the evanescent wave for the optimal sensor configuration were estimated to be 30 and 33 nm at wavelengths of 420 and 706 nm, which are in a good agreement with the thickness of the 10-cycle deposited film (ca. 30 nm).

Fabrication of polyaniline-HCl cladding modified fiber optic intrinsic biosensor for glucose detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pahurkar, Vikas; Tamgadge, Yuoraj; Muley, Gajanan

2016-05-01

In the present study, we have fabricated and studied response of cladding modified fiber optic intrinsic glucose biosensor (FOIGB). The optical fiber was used as a light transforming waveguide and sensing element fabricated over it by applying a thin layer of polymer. The cladding of the sensor was modified with the polyaniline-hydrochloric acid (PANI-HCl) polymer matrix. The PANI-HCl matrix provides an amorphous morphology useful to immobilize glucose oxidase (GOx) biomolecules through cross-linking technique via glutaraldehyde. The present sensor was used to detect the glucose analyte in the solution. In the sensing response study of FOIGB toward glucose, novel modal power distribution (MPD) technique was used. The reaction between GOx and glucose changes the optical properties of prepared FOIGB and hence modify MPD at output as a function of glucose concentration. The nature and surface morphology of PANI-HCl matrix has been studied.

Oxygen detection using evanescent fields

DOEpatents

Duan, Yixiang [Los Alamos, NM; Cao, Weenqing [Los Alamos, NM

2007-08-28

An apparatus and method for the detection of oxygen using optical fiber based evanescent light absorption. Methylene blue was immobilized using a sol-gel process on a portion of the exterior surface of an optical fiber for which the cladding has been removed, thereby forming an optical oxygen sensor. When light is directed through the optical fiber, transmitted light intensity varies as a result of changes in the absorption of evanescent light by the methylene blue in response to the oxygen concentration to which the sensor is exposed. The sensor was found to have a linear response to oxygen concentration on a semi-logarithmic scale within the oxygen concentration range between 0.6% and 20.9%, a response time and a recovery time of about 3 s, ant to exhibit good reversibility and repeatability. An increase in temperature from 21.degree. C. to 35.degree. C. does not affect the net absorption of the sensor.

A novel fiber optic geophone with high sensitivity for geo-acoustic detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhenhui; Yang, Huayong; Xiong, Shuidong; Luo, Hong; Cao, Chunyan; Ma, Shuqing

2014-12-01

A novel interferometric fiber optic geophone is introduced in this paper. This geophone is mainly used for geo-acoustic signal detection. The geophone use one of the three orthogonal components of mandrel type push-pull structure in mechanically and single-mode fiber optic Michelson interferometer structure with Faraday Rotation Mirror (FRM) elements in optically. The resonance frequency of the geophone is larger than 1000Hz. The acceleration sensitivity is as high as 56.6 dB (0dB re 1rad/g) with a slight sensitivity fluctuation of +/-0. 2dB within the frequency band from 20Hz to 200Hz. The geo-acoustic signals generated by underwater blasting are detected successfully. All the channels show good uniformity in the detected wave shape and the amplitudes exhibit very slight differences. The geo-acoustic signal excitated by the engine of surface vehicles was also detected successfully.

Epifluorescence light collection for multiphoton microscopic endoscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Christopher M.; Rivera, David R.; Xu, Chris; Webb, Watt W.

2011-03-01

Multiphoton microscopic endoscopy (MPM-E) is a promising medical in vivo diagnostic imaging technique because it captures intrinsic fluorescence and second harmonic generation signals to reveal anatomical and histological information about disease states in tissue. However, maximizing light collection from multiphoton endoscopes remains a challenge: weak nonlinear emissions from endogenous structures, miniature optics, large imaging depths, and light scattering in tissue all hamper light collection. The quantity of light that may be collected using a dual-clad fiber system from scattering phantoms that mimic the properties of the in vivo environment is measured. In this experiment, 800nm excitation light from a Ti:Sapphire laser is dispersion compensated and focused through a SM800 optical fiber and lens system into the tissue phantom. Emission light from the phantom passes through the lens system, reflects off the dichroic and is then collected by a second optical fiber actuated by a micromanipulator. The lateral position of the collection fiber varies, measuring the distribution of emitted light 2000μm on either side of the focal point reimaged to the object plane. This spatial collection measurement is performed at depths up to 200μm from the phantom surface. The tissue phantoms are composed of a 15.8 μM fluorescein solution mixed with microspheres, approximating the scattering properties of human bladder and dermis tissue. Results show that commercially available dual-clad optical fibers collect more than 47% of the total emission returning to the object plane from both phantoms. Based on these results, initial MPM-E devices will image the surface of epithelial tissues.

High temperature heat source generation with a very low power level quasi-cw(continuous wave) semiconductor laser for medical use

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimoto, Takahiro; Imai, Yusuke; Tei, Kazuyoku; Fujioka, Tomoo; Yamaguchi, Shigeru

2013-03-01

In most of medical and dental laser treatments, high power pulsed laser have been used as desirable light sources employing with an optical fiber delivery system. The treatment process involves high temperature thermal effect associated with direct laser absorption of the materials such as hard and soft tissues, tooth, bones and so on. Such treatments sometimes face technical difficulties suffering from their optical absorption properties. We investigate a new technology to create high temperature heat source on the tip surface of the glass fiber proposed for the medical surgery applications. Using a low power level (4 6W) semiconductor laser at a wavelength of 980nm, a laser coupled fiber tip was pre-processed to contain certain amount of TiO2 powder with a depth of 400μm from the tip surface so that the irradiated low laser energy could be perfectly absorbed to be transferred to thermal energy. Thus the laser treatment can be performed without suffering from any optical characteristic of the material. Semiconductor laser was operated quasi-CW mode pulse time duration of 180ms and more than 95% of the laser energy was converted to thermal energy in the fiber tip. by Based on twocolor thermometry by using a gated optical multichannel analyzer with 0.25m spectrometer in visible wavelength region, the temperature of the fiber tip was analyzed. The temperature of the heat source was measured to be approximately 3000K. Demonstration of laser processing employing this system was successfully carried out drilling through holes in ceramic materials simulating bone surgery.

Enzyme-enhanced fluorescence detection of DNA on etched optical fibers.

PubMed

Niu, Shu-yan; Li, Quan-yi; Ren, Rui; Zhang, Shu-sheng

2009-05-15

A novel DNA biosensor based on enzyme-enhanced fluorescence detection on etched optical fibers was developed. The hybridization complex of DNA probe and biotinylated target was formed on the etched optical fiber, and was then bound with streptavidin labeled horseradish peroxidase (streptavidin-HRP). The target DNA was quantified through the fluorescent detection of bi-p,p'-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (DBDA) generated from the substrate 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (p-HPA) under the catalysis of HRP, with a detection limit of 1 pM and a linear range from 1.69 pM to 169 pM. It is facile to regenerate this sensor through surface treatment with concentrated urea solution. It was discovered that the sensor can retain 70% of its original activity after three detection-regeneration cycles.

Transmission degradation and preservation for tapered optical fibers in rubidium vapor.

PubMed

Lai, Meimei; Franson, James D; Pittman, Todd B

2013-04-20

The use of subwavelength diameter tapered optical fibers (TOFs) in warm rubidium vapor has recently been identified as a promising system for realizing ultralow-power nonlinear optical effects. However, at the relatively high atomic densities needed for many of these experiments, rubidium atoms accumulating on the TOF surface can cause a significant loss of overall transmission through the fiber. Here we report direct measurements of the time scale associated with this transmission degradation for various rubidium density conditions. Transmission is affected almost immediately after the introduction of rubidium vapor into the system, and declines rapidly as the density is increased. More significantly, we show how a heating element designed to raise the TOF temperature can be used to reduce this transmission loss and dramatically extend the effective TOF transmission lifetime.

Demonstration of a Fiber Optic Regression Probe in a High-Temperature Flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korman, Valentin; Polzin, Kurt

2011-01-01

The capability to provide localized, real-time monitoring of material regression rates in various applications has the potential to provide a new stream of data for development testing of various components and systems, as well as serving as a monitoring tool in flight applications. These applications include, but are not limited to, the regression of a combusting solid fuel surface, the ablation of the throat in a chemical rocket or the heat shield of an aeroshell, and the monitoring of erosion in long-life plasma thrusters. The rate of regression in the first application is very fast, while the second and third are increasingly slower. A recent fundamental sensor development effort has led to a novel regression, erosion, and ablation sensor technology (REAST). The REAST sensor allows for measurement of real-time surface erosion rates at a discrete surface location. The sensor is optical, using two different, co-located fiber-optics to perform the regression measurement. The disparate optical transmission properties of the two fiber-optics makes it possible to measure the regression rate by monitoring the relative light attenuation through the fibers. As the fibers regress along with the parent material in which they are embedded, the relative light intensities through the two fibers changes, providing a measure of the regression rate. The optical nature of the system makes it relatively easy to use in a variety of harsh, high temperature environments, and it is also unaffected by the presence of electric and magnetic fields. In addition, the sensor could be used to perform optical spectroscopy on the light emitted by a process and collected by fibers, giving localized measurements of various properties. The capability to perform an in-situ measurement of material regression rates is useful in addressing a variety of physical issues in various applications. An in-situ measurement allows for real-time data regarding the erosion rates, providing a quick method for empirically anchoring any analysis geared towards lifetime qualification. Erosion rate data over an operating envelope could also be useful in the modeling detailed physical processes. The sensor has been embedded in many regressing media to demonstrate the capabilities in a number of regressing environments. In the present work, sensors were installed in the eroding/regressing throat region of a converging-diverging flow, with the working gas heated to high temperatures by means of a high-pressure arc discharge at steady-state discharge power levels up to 500 kW. The amount of regression observed in each material sample was quantified using a later profilometer, which was compared to the in-situ erosion measurements to demonstrate the efficacy of the measurement technique in very harsh, high-temperature environments.

Optical Diagnostics in Medicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iftimia, Nicusor

2003-03-01

Light has a unique potential for non-invasive tissue diagnosis. The relatively short wavelength of light allows imaging of tissue at the resolution of histopathology. While strong multiple scattering of light in tissue makes attainment of this resolution difficult for thick tissues, most pathology emanates from epithelial surfaces. Therefore, high-resolution diagnosis of many important diseases may be achieved by transmitting light to the surface of interest. The recent fiber-optic implementation of technologies that reject multiple scattering, such as confocal microscopy and optical low coherence interferometry, have brought us one step closer to realizing non-invasive imaging of architectural and cellular features of tissue. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can produce high-resolution cross-sectional images of biological structures. Clinical OCT studies conducted in the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system have shown that OCT is capable of providing images of the architectural (> 20 µm) microanatomy of a variety of epithelial tissues, including the layered structure of squamous epithelium and arterial vessels. Fine Needle Aspiration- Low Coherence Interferometry (FNA-LCI) is another optical diagnostics technique, which is a suitable solution to increase the effectiveness of the FNA procedures. LCI is capable of measuring depth resolved (axial, z) tissue structure, birefringence, flow (Doppler shift), and spectra at a resolution of several microns. Since LCI systems are fiber-optic based, LCI probes may easily fit within the bore of a fine gauge needle, allowing diagnostic information to be obtained directly from the FNA biopsy site. Fiber optic spectrally encoded confocal microscopy (SECM) is a new confocal microscopy method, which eliminates the need for rapid beam scanning within the optical probe. This advance enables confocal microscopy to be performed through small diameter probes and will allow assessment of internal human tissues in vivo at the cellular level. A detailed description of several fiber optics based systems for early diseases diagnosis, as well as preliminary clinic results, will be presented.

Optical Fiber Strain Instrumentation for High Temperature Aerospace Structural Monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, A.

2002-01-01

The objective of the program is the development and laboratory demonstration of sensors based on silica optical fibers for measurement of high temperature strain for aerospace materials evaluations. A complete fiber strain sensor system based on white-light interferometry was designed and implemented. An experiment set-up was constructed to permit testing of strain measurement up to 850 C. The strain is created by bending an alumina cantilever beam to which is the fiber sensor is attached. The strain calibration is provided by the application of known beam deflections. To ensure the high temperature operation capability of the sensor, gold-coated single-mode fiber is used. Moreover, a new method of sensor surface attachment which permits accurate sensor gage length determination is also developed. Excellent results were obtained at temperatures up to 800-850 C.

Fiber Optic Sensor Components and Systems for Smart Materials and Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lyons, R.

1999-01-01

The general objective of the funded research effort has been the development of discrete and distributed fiber sensors and fiber optic centered opto-electronic networks for the intelligent monitoring of phenomena in various aerospace structures related to NASA Marshall specific applications. In particular, we have proposed and have been developing technologies that we believe to be readily transferrable and which involve new fabrication techniques. The associated sensors developed can be incorporated into the matrix or on the surfaces of structures for the purpose of sensing stress, strain, temperature-both low and high, pressure field variations, phase changes, and the presence of various chemical constituents.

Relative humidity sensor based on surface plasmon resonance of D-shaped fiber with polyvinyl alcohol embedding Au grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Haitao; Han, Daofu; Li, Ming; Lin, Bo

2017-01-01

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of a D-shaped fiber coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) embedding an Au grating-based relative humidity (RH) sensor. The Au grating is fabricated on a D-shaped fiber to match the wave-vector and excite the surface plasmon, and the PVA is embedded in the Au grating as a sensitive cladding film. The refractive index of PVA changes with the ambient humidity. Measurements in a controlled environment show that the RH sensor can achieve a sensitivity of 5.4 nm per relative humidity unit in the RH range from 0% to 70% RH. Moreover, the surface plasmon resonance can be realized and used for RH sensing at the C band of optical fiber communication instead of the visible light band due to the metallic grating microstructure on the D-shaped fiber.

Design and fabrication of a microlens on the sidewall of an optical fiber with a metallized 45 degrees end face.

PubMed

Kim, Myun-Sik; Jo, Kyoung-Woo; Lee, Jong-Hyun

2005-07-01

We propose a method for designing a self-aligned microlens. We have improved its fabrication by employing metallization on a 45 degrees angled surface of the optical fiber. We designed the focal length of the microlens to be 14.0 microm, considering the dimensions of a scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) probe, and we calculated possible dimensions of diameter and height by the ray-tracing method. The modeling of lens formation was also carried out with two assumptions: no volume change and no movement of peripheral parts of the photoresist (PR) on the substrate during reflow. To fabricate a microlens of diameter 16.0 microm and height 5.0 microm we exposed a coated PR to UV light guided into the optical fiber, followed by optimized reflow of 150 degrees C for 2 min. For this microlens the focal length and the beam waist were 14.0 and 1.4 microm, respectively. This lens can be used for compact optical data storage.

Direct transfer of metallic photonic structures onto end facets of optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xinping; Liu, Feifei; Lin, Yuanhai

2016-07-01

We present a flexible approach to transfer metallic photonic crystals (MPCs) onto end facets of optical fibers. The MPCs were initially fabricated on a glass substrate with a spacer layer of indium tin oxide (ITO), which was used as a buffer layer in the transferring process. The fiber ends were firstly welded on the top surface of the MPCs by a drop of polymer solution after the solvent evaporated. The ITO layer was then etched by hydrochloric acid (HCl), so that the MPCs got off the substrate and were transferred to the fiber ends. Alternatively, the MPCs may be also etched off the substrate first by immersing the sample in HCl. The ultra-thin MPC sheet consisting of gold nanolines interlaced with photoresist gratings was then transferred to cap the fiber ends. In the later approach, we can choose which side of the MPCs to be used as the contact with the fiber facet. Such methods enabled convenient nanostructuring on optical fiber tips and achieving miniaturized MPC devices with compact integration, extending significantly applications of MPCs. In particular, the fabrications presented in this manuscript enrich the lab-on-fiber engineering techniques and the resultant devices have potential applications in remote sensing and detection systems.

Implementation of Fiber Optic Sensing System on Sandwich Composite Cylinder Buckling Test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pena, Francisco; Richards, W. Lance; Parker, Allen R.; Piazza, Anthony; Schultz, Marc R.; Rudd, Michelle T.; Gardner, Nathaniel W.; Hilburger, Mark W.

2018-01-01

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Engineering and Safety Center Shell Buckling Knockdown Factor Project is a multicenter project tasked with developing new analysis-based shell buckling design guidelines and design factors (i.e., knockdown factors) through high-fidelity buckling simulations and advanced test technologies. To validate these new buckling knockdown factors for future launch vehicles, the Shell Buckling Knockdown Factor Project is carrying out structural testing on a series of large-scale metallic and composite cylindrical shells at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama). A fiber optic sensor system was used to measure strain on a large-scale sandwich composite cylinder that was tested under multiple axial compressive loads up to more than 850,000 lb, and equivalent bending loads over 22 million in-lb. During the structural testing of the composite cylinder, strain data were collected from optical cables containing distributed fiber Bragg gratings using a custom fiber optic sensor system interrogator developed at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. A total of 16 fiber-optic strands, each containing nearly 1,000 fiber Bragg gratings, measuring strain, were installed on the inner and outer cylinder surfaces to monitor the test article global structural response through high-density real-time and post test strain measurements. The distributed sensing system provided evidence of local epoxy failure at the attachment-ring-to-barrel interface that would not have been detected with conventional instrumentation. Results from the fiber optic sensor system were used to further refine and validate structural models for buckling of the large-scale composite structures. This paper discusses the techniques employed for real-time structural monitoring of the composite cylinder for structural load introduction and distributed bending-strain measurements over a large section of the cylinder by utilizing unique sensing capabilities of fiber optic sensors.

Dual fiber microprobe for mapping elemental distributions in biological cells

DOEpatents

Martin, Rodger C [Powell, TN; Martin, Madhavi Z [Powell, TN

2007-07-31

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is applied on a microscale for in situ elemental analysis and spatial mapping in biological cells. A high power laser beam is focused onto a cell surface using a dual branching optical fiber probe for optical excitation of the cell constituents. Dual spectrometers and ICCD detectors capture the emission spectra from the excited cell(s). Repeated probing or repositioning of the laser beam with respect to the cell can provide 2-D or 3-D mapping of the cell.

Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Materials Using Distributed Fiber Bragg Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant, Joseph; Kual, Raj; Taylor, Scott; Jackson, Kurt V.; Myers, George; Wang, Y.; Sharma, A.; Burdine, Robert (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Health monitoring of polymer matrix composite materials using fiber optic Bragg grating (FBG) sensors is accomplished using a tunable IR (infrared) laser via transmission mode. Results are presented from experiments of composite structures with FBG's embedded at various orientations, and surface measurements of various cryogenic composite vessels.

Fiber optic temperature sensor gives rise to thermal analysis in complex product design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Andrew Y. S.; Pau, Michael C. Y.

1996-09-01

A computer-adapted fiber-optic temperature sensing system has been developed which aims to study both the theoretical aspect of fiber temperature sensing and the experimental aspect of such system. The system consists of a laser source, a fiber sensing element, an electronic fringes counting device, and an on-line personal computer. The temperature measurement is achieved by the conventional double beam fringe counting method with optical path length changes in the sensing beam due to the fiber expansion. The system can automatically measure the temperature changes in a sensing fiber arm which provides an insight of the heat generation and dissipation of the measured system. Unlike the conventional measuring devices such as thermocouples or solid state temperature sensors, the fiber sensor can easily be wrapped and shaped to fit the surface of the measuring object or even inside a molded plastic parts such as a computer case, which gives much more flexibility and applicability to the analysis of heat generation and dissipation in the operation of these machine parts. The reference beam is being set up on a temperature controlled optical bench to facilitate high sensitivity and high temperature resolution. The measuring beam has a motorized beam selection device for multiple fiber beam measurement. The project has been demonstrated in the laboratory and the system sensitivity and resolution are found to be as high as 0.01 degree Celsius. It is expected the system will find its application in many design studies which require thermal budgeting.

Development of optical WGM resonators for biosensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brice, I.; Pirktina, A.; Ubele, A.; Grundsteins, K.; Atvars, A.; Viter, R.; Alnis, J.

2017-12-01

Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) resonators are very sensitive to nanoparticles attaching to the surface. We simulate this process using COMSOL Wave Optics module. Our spherical WGM resonators are produced by melting a tip of an optical fiber and we measure optical Q factors in the 105 range. Molecular oxygen lines of the air in the 760 nm region are used as reference markers when looking for the shifts of the WGM resonance lines. We demonstrate WGM microresonator surface coating with a layer of ZnO nanorods as well as with polystyrene microspheres. Coatings produce increased contact surface. Additional layer of antigens/antibodies will be coated to make high-specificity biosensors.

Fiber-Optic Sensor Would Monitor Growth of Polymer Film

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beamesderfer, Michael

2005-01-01

A proposed optoelectronic sensor system would measure the increase in thickness of a film of parylene (a thermoplastic polymer made from para-xylene) during growth of the film in a vapor deposition process. By enabling real-time monitoring of film thickness, the system would make it possible to identify process conditions favorable for growth and to tailor the final thickness of the film with greater precision than is now possible. The heart of the sensor would be a pair of fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometers, depicted schematically in the figure. (In principle, a single such interferometer would suffice. The proposal calls for the use of two interferometers for protective redundancy and increased accuracy.) Each interferometer would include a light source, a fiber-optic coupler, and photodetectors in a control box outside the deposition chamber. A single-mode optical fiber for each interferometer would run from inside the control box to a fused-silica faceplate in a sensor head. The sensory tips of the optical fibers would be polished flush with the free surface of the faceplate. In preparation for use, the sensor head would be mounted with a hermetic seal in a feed-through port in the deposition chamber, such that free face of the faceplate and the sensory tips of the optical fibers would be exposed to the deposition environment. During operation, light would travel along each optical fiber from the control box to the sensor head. A small portion of the light would be reflected toward the control box from the end face of each fiber. Once growth of the parylene film started, a small portion of the light would also be reflected toward the control box from the outer surface of the film. In the control box, the two reflected portions of the light beam would interfere in one of the photodetectors. The difference between the phases of the interfering reflected portions of the light beam would vary in proportion to the increasing thickness of the film and the known index of refraction of the film, causing the photodetector reading to vary in proportion to a known sinusoidal function of film thickness. Electronic means of monitoring this variation and the corresponding variation in phase and thickness are well established in the art of interferometry. Hence, by tracking the cumulative change in phase difference from the beginning of deposition, one could track the growing thickness of the film to within a small fraction of a wavelength of light.

Growth of single-crystal YAG fiber optics.

PubMed

Nie, Craig D; Bera, Subhabrata; Harrington, James A

2016-07-11

Single-crystal YAG (Y₃Al₅O₁₂) fibers have been grown by the laser heated pedestal growth technique with losses as low as 0.3 dB/m at 1.06 μm. These YAG fibers are as long as about 60 cm with diameters around 330 μm. The early fibers were grown from unoriented YAG seed fibers and these fibers exhibited facet steps or ridges on the surface of the fiber. However, recently we have grown fibers using an oriented seed to grow step-free fibers. Scattering losses made on the fibers indicate that the scattering losses are equal to about 30% of the total loss.

Detection and characterization of microdefects and microprecipitates in Si wafers by Brewster angle illumination using an optical fiber system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taijing, Lu; Toyoda, Koichi; Nango, Nobuhito; Ogawa, Tomoya

1991-10-01

Microdefects and microprecipitates were non-destructively detected in bulk and near surface of a Si wafer by Brewster angle illumination using an optical fiber system, because the p-component of the illumination enters completely into the wafer and then makes scattering from the defects while the other s-component reflects on the wafer surface so as to deviate from an objective lens for the detection of the scattering. Some results of observations and discussions will be done here about the scatterers in epitaxially grown Si layers, denuded zones of Si wafers, annealed amorphous SiC films, SIMOX specimens and slip bands in Si crystals.

Method for Texturing Surfaces of Optical Fiber Sensors Used for Blood Glucose Monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, Bruce A. (Inventor)

2007-01-01

Disclosed is a method and the resulting product thereof comprising a solid light-conducting fiber with a point of attachment and having a textured surface site consisting a textured distal end prepared by being placed in a vacuum and then subjected to directed hyperthermal beams comprising oxygen ions or atoms. The textured distal end comprises cones or pillars that are spaced upon from each other by less than 1 micron and are extremely suitable to prevent cellular components of blood from entering the valleys between the cones or pillars so as to effectively separate the cellular components in the blood from interfering with optical sensing of the glucose concentration for diabetic patients.

Fiber optic inclination detector system having a weighted sphere with reference points

DOEpatents

Cwalinski, Jeffrey P.

1995-01-01

A fiber optic inclination detector system for determining the angular displacement of an object from a reference surface includes a simple mechanical transducer which requires a minimum number of parts and no electrical components. The system employs a single light beam which is split into two light beams and provided to the transducer. Each light beam is amplitude modulated upon reflecting off the transducer to detect inclination. The power values associated with each of the reflected light beams are converted by a pair of photodetectors into voltage signals, and a microprocessor manipulates the voltage signals to provide a measure of the angular displacement between the object and the reference surface.

Miniaturized fiber-optic Michelson-type interferometric sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Murphy, Kent A.; Miller, William V., III; Tran, Tuan A.; Vengsarkar, Ashish M.; Claus, Richard O.

1991-01-01

A novel, miniaturized Michelson-type fiber-optic interferometric sensor that is relatively insensitive to temperature drifts is presented. A fused-biconical tapered coupler is cleaved immediately after the coupled length and polished down to the region of the fused cladding, but short of the interaction region. The end of one core is selectively coated with a reflective surface and is used as the reference arm; the other core serves as the sensing arm. The detection of surface acoustic waves, microdisplacements, and magnetic fields is reported. The sensor is shown to be highly stable in comparison to a classic homodyne, uncompensated Michelson interferometer, and signal-to-noise ratios of 65 dB have been obtained.

An integrated micro-volume fiber-optic sensor for oxygen determination in exhaled breath based on iridium(III) complexes immobilized in fluorinated xerogels.

PubMed

Xiong, Yan; Ye, Zhongbin; Xu, Jing; Zhu, Yuanqiang; Chen, Chen; Guan, Yafeng

2013-03-21

A novel integrated fiber-optic sensor with micro detection volume is developed and evaluated for O(2) determination on a breath-by-breath basis in human health monitoring applications. The sensing element was fabricated by dip-coating an uncladded optical fiber with [Ir(piq)(2)(acac)]-doped hybrid fluorinated ORMOSIL (organically modified silicate) film, which was prepared from 3,3,3-trifluoropropyltrimethoxysilane (TFP-TriMOS) and n-propyltrimethoxysilane (n-propyl-TriMOS). The sensor was then constructed by inserting the prepared optical fiber into a transparent capillary. A microchannel formed between the optical fiber and the capillary inner wall acted as a flow cell for the sample flowing through. The evanescent wave (EW) field produced on the fiber core surface can excite the O(2)-sensitive fluorophores of [Ir(piq)(2)(acac)] to produce emission fluorescence. O(2) can be sensed by its quenching effect on the emission fluorescence intensity. Spectroscopic properties have been characterized by FTIR and fluorescence measurements. Stern-Volmer and Demas models were both employed to analyse the sensor sensitivity, which is 13.0 with the LOD = 0.009% (3σ) and the response time is about 1 s. By integrating the sensing and detection elements on the optical fiber, the novel configuration showed advantages of easy fabrication and low cost. Parameters of sensitivity, response time, repeatability, humidity effect and temperature effect were discussed in detail. The proposed sensor showed potential for practical in-breath O(2) analysis application due to its advantages of easy fabrication, low cost, fast response, excellent hydrophobicity, negligible temperature interference and suitable sensitivity.

Lab-on-fiber technology: a new vision for chemical and biological sensing.

PubMed

Ricciardi, Armando; Crescitelli, Alessio; Vaiano, Patrizio; Quero, Giuseppe; Consales, Marco; Pisco, Marco; Esposito, Emanuela; Cusano, Andrea

2015-12-21

The integration of microfluidics and photonic biosensors has allowed achievement of several laboratory functions in a single chip, leading to the development of photonic lab-on-a-chip technology. Although a lot of progress has been made to implement such sensors in small and easy-to-use systems, many applications such as point-of-care diagnostics and in vivo biosensing still require a sensor probe able to perform measurements at precise locations that are often hard to reach. The intrinsic property of optical fibers to conduct light to a remote location makes them an ideal platform to meet this demand. The motivation to combine the good performance of photonic biosensors on chips with the unique advantages of optical fibers has thus led to the development of the so-called lab-on-fiber technology. This emerging technology envisages the integration of functionalized materials on micro- and nano-scales (i.e. the labs) with optical fibers to realize miniaturized and advanced all-in-fiber probes, especially useful for (but not limited to) label-free chemical and biological applications. This review presents a broad overview of lab-on-fiber biosensors, with particular reference to lab-on-tip platforms, where the labs are integrated on the optical fiber facet. Light-matter interaction on the fiber tip is achieved through the integration of thin layers of nanoparticles or nanostructures supporting resonant modes, both plasmonic and photonic, highly sensitive to local modifications of the surrounding environment. According to the physical principle that is exploited, different configurations - such as localized plasmon resonance probes, surface enhanced Raman scattering probes and photonic probes - are classified, while various applications are presented in context throughout. For each device, the surface chemistry and the related functionalization protocols are reviewed. Moreover, the implementation strategies and fabrication processes, either based on bottom-up or top-down approaches, are discussed. In conclusion we highlight some of the further development opportunities, including lab-in-a-needle technology, which could have a direct and disruptive impact in localized cancer treatment applications.

Visual stimulus presentation using fiber optics in the MRI scanner.

PubMed

Huang, Ruey-Song; Sereno, Martin I

2008-03-30

Imaging the neural basis of visuomotor actions using fMRI is a topic of increasing interest in the field of cognitive neuroscience. One challenge is to present realistic three-dimensional (3-D) stimuli in the subject's peripersonal space inside the MRI scanner. The stimulus generating apparatus must be compatible with strong magnetic fields and must not interfere with image acquisition. Virtual 3-D stimuli can be generated with a stereo image pair projected onto screens or via binocular goggles. Here, we describe designs and implementations for automatically presenting physical 3-D stimuli (point-light targets) in peripersonal and near-face space using fiber optics in the MRI scanner. The feasibility of fiber-optic based displays was demonstrated in two experiments. The first presented a point-light array along a slanted surface near the body, and the second presented multiple point-light targets around the face. Stimuli were presented using phase-encoded paradigms in both experiments. The results suggest that fiber-optic based displays can be a complementary approach for visual stimulus presentation in the MRI scanner.

Fluorescence-based surface magnifying chromoendoscopy and optical coherence tomography endoscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wall, R. Andrew; Barton, Jennifer K.

2012-02-01

A side-viewing, 2 mm diameter, surface magnifying chromoendoscopy (SMC)-optical coherence tomography (OCT) endoscope has been designed for simultaneous, non-destructive surface fluorescence visualization and cross-sectional imaging. We apply this endoscope to in vivo examination of mouse colon. A 30,000 element fiber bundle is combined with single mode fibers. The distal optics consist of a gradient-index lens and spacer to provide a magnification of 1 at a working distance of 1.58 mm in air, necessary to image the sample through a 0.23 mm thick outer glass envelope, and an aluminized right-angle prism fixed to the distal end of the GRIN lens assembly. The resulting 1:1 imaging system is capable of 3.9 μm lateral and 2.3 μm axial resolution in the OCT channel, and 125 lp/mm resolution across a 0.70 mm field of view in the SMC channel. The endoscope can perform high contrast crypt visualization, molecular imaging, and cross-sectional imaging of colon microstructure.

Phase compensation with fiber optic surface profile acquisition and reconstruction system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bo, En; Duan, Fajie; Feng, Fan; Lv, Changrong; Xiao, Fu; Huang, Tingting

2015-02-01

A fiber-optic sinusoidal phase modulating (SPM) interferometer was proposed for the acquisition and reconstruction of three-dimensional (3-D) surface profile. Sinusoidal phase modulation was induced by controlling the injection current of light source. The surface profile was constructed on the basis of fringe projection. Fringe patterns are vulnerable to external disturbances such as mechanical vibration and temperature fluctuation, which cause phase drift in the interference signal and decrease measuring accuracy. A closed-loop feedback phase compensation system was built. In the subsystem, the initial phase of the interference signal, which was caused by the initial optical path difference between interference arms, could be demodulated using phase generated carrier (PGC) method and counted out using coordinated rotation digital computer (CORDIC) , then a compensation voltage was generated for the PZT driver. The bias value of external disturbances superimposed on fringe patterns could be reduced to about 50 mrad, and the phase stability for interference fringes was less than 6 mrad. The feasibility for real-time profile measurement has been verified.

Qualification of a truly distributed fiber optic technique for strain and temperature measurements in concrete structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henault, J. M.; Salin, J.; Moreau, G.; Delepine-Lesoille, S.; Bertand, J.; Taillade, F.; Quiertant, M.; Benzarti, K.

2011-04-01

Structural health monitoring is a key factor in life cycle management of infrastructures. Truly distributed fiber optic sensors are able to provide relevant information on large structures, such as nuclear power plants or nuclear waste disposal facilities. The sensing chain includes an optoelectronic unit and a sensing cable made of one or more optical fibers. A new instrument based on Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR), enables to perform temperature and strain measurements with a centimeter scale spatial resolution over hundred of meters and with a level of precision equal to 1 μ strain and 0.1 °C. Several sensing cables are designed with different materials targeting to last for decades, either embedded in the concrete or attached to the surface of the structure. They must ensure an optimal transfer of temperature and strain from the concrete matrix to the optical fiber. Based on the European guide FD CEN/TR 14748 "Non-destructive testing - Methodology for qualification of non-destructive tests", a qualification method was developed. Tests were carried out using various sensing cables embedded in the volume or fixed to the surface of plain concrete specimens and representative-scale reinforced concrete structural elements. Measurements were performed with an OFDR instrument, while mechanical solicitations were imposed to the concrete element. Preliminary experiments seem very promising since measurements performed with distributed sensing systems are found comparable to values obtained with conventional sensors used in civil engineering and with the Strength of Materials Modelling. Moreover, the distributed sensing system makes it possible to detect and localize cracks appearing in concrete during the mechanical loading.

Optical immunosensors for detection of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enteritidis from food

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhunia, Arun K.; Geng, Tao; Lathrop, Amanda; Valadez, Angela; Morgan, Mark T.

2004-03-01

Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella are two major foodborne pathogens of significant concern. Two optical evanescent wave immunosensors were evaluated for detection: Antibody-coupled fiber-optic biosensor and a surface plasmon resonant (SPR) immunosensor. In the fiber-optic sensor, polyclonal antibodies for the test organisms were immobilized on polystyrene fiber wave -guides using streptavidin - biotin chemistry. Cyanine 5 -labeled monoclonal antibodies C11E9 (for L. monocytogenes) and SF-11 (for Salmonella Enteritidis) were used to generate a specific fluorescent signal. Signal acquisition was performed by launching a laser-light (635 nm) from an Analyte-2000. This immunosensor was able to detect 103 - 109 cfu/ml of L. monocytogenes or 106-109 cfu/ml of Salmonella Enteritidis and the assays were conducted at near real-time with results obtained within one hour of sampling. The assays were specific and showed signal even in the presence of other microorganisms such as E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis or Salmonella Typhimurium. In the SPR system, IAsys instrument (resonant mirror sensor) was used. Monoclonal antibody-C11E9 was directly immobilized onto a carboxylate cuvette. Whole Listeria cells at various concentrations did not yield any signal while surface protein extracts did. Crude protein extracts from L. monocytogenes and L. innocua had average binding responses of around 150 arc sec (0.25 ng/mm2), which was significantly different from L. grayi, L. ivanovii, or L. welshimeri with average responses of <48 arc sec. Both fiber-optic and SPR sensors show promise in near real-time detection of foodborne L. monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis.

Measuring centimeter-resolution air temperature profiles above land and water using fiber-optic Distributed Temperature Sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sigmund, Armin; Pfister, Lena; Olesch, Johannes; Thomas, Christoph K.

2016-04-01

The precise determination of near-surface air temperature profiles is of special importance for the characterization of airflows (e.g. cold air) and the quantification of sensible heat fluxes according to the flux-gradient similarity approach. In contrast to conventional multi-sensor techniques, measuring temperature profiles using fiber-optic Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) provides thousands of measurements referenced to a single calibration standard at much reduced costs. The aim of this work was to enhance the vertical resolution of Raman scatter DTS measurements up to the centimeter-scale using a novel approach for atmospheric applications: the optical fiber was helically coiled around a meshed fabric. In addition to testing the new fiber geometry, we quantified the measurement uncertainty and demonstrated the benefits of the enhanced-resolution profiles. The fiber-optic cable was coiled around a hollow column consisting of white reinforcing fabric supported by plexiglass rings every meter. Data from two columns of this type were collected for 47 days to measure air temperature vertically over 3.0 and 5.1 m over a gently inclined meadow and over and in a small lake, respectively. Both profiles had a vertical resolution of 1 cm in the lower section near the surface and 5 cm in the upper section with an along-fiber instrument-specific averaging of 1.0 m and a temporal resolution of 30 s. Measurement uncertainties, especially from conduction between reinforcing fabric and fiber-optic cable, were estimated by modeling the fiber temperature via a detailed energy balance approach. Air temperature, wind velocity and radiation components were needed as input data and measured separately. The temperature profiles revealed valuable details, especially in the lowest 1 m above surface. This was best demonstrated for nighttime observations when artefacts due to solar heating did not occur. For example, the dynamics of a cold air layer was detected in a clear night with weak wind. In the same night temperature gradients up to 30 K m-1 were determined above the meadow. The water was up to 13 K warmer than the air in this night resulting in a sharp and strong temperature decrease at the water surface and a moderate decrease with gradients up to -9 K m-1 in the air above. The plexiglass rings caused some obvious artefacts and affected data was removed and replaced by linear interpolation. According to the uncertainty estimation performed to date, conduction between fabric and fiber increased fiber temperatures by approximately 0.005 K at 2 m height on a sunny day with weak wind. This effect was deemed negligible as it reflected less than 1 % of the total heating compared to that in the air. The maximum absolute error was approximately 0.9 K at 2 m height on the same day. Ongoing work will demonstrate potential benefits of the enhanced-resolution profiles by quantitatively comparing measured and interpolated temperature profiles with varying resolution (as well as sensible heat fluxes computed according to flux-gradient-similarity).

Hydrophobic chalcogenide fibers for cell-based bio-optical sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lucas, Pierre; Riley, Mark R.; Solis, Michelle A.; Juncker, Christophe; Collier, Jayne; Boesewetter, Dianne E.

2005-03-01

Chalcogenide fibers are shown to exhibit a hydrophobic surface behavior which results in detection enhancement for organic species in aqueous solutions. We use these fibers to monitor the infrared signature of human lung cells and detect the presence of toxic agents in the cell surrounding media. The signal is collected using a fiber evanescent wave spectroscopy set up with live human cells acting as a sensitizer for detection of minute quantities of toxicant. A monolayer of human alveolar epithelial cells form strong attachment at the surface of the fiber sensing zone and live in contact with the fiber while their IR spectra is collected remotely. Biochemical change in the living cells are detected during exposure to toxic agents. Variations in the spectroscopic features of the cells are observed in different spectral regions. Finally, the toxicity of Te2As3Se5 fibers is investigated.

Surface Characterization of Carbon Fiber Polymer Composites and Aluminum Alloys After Laser Interference Structuring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabau, Adrian S.; Greer, Clayton M.; Chen, Jian; Warren, Charles D.; Daniel, Claus

2016-07-01

The increasing use of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites (CFPC) and aluminum alloys as lightweight materials in the automotive and aerospace industries demands enhanced surface preparation and control of surface morphology prior to joining. In this study, surfaces of both composite and aluminum were prepared for joining using an Nd:YAG laser in a two-beam interference setup, enabling the (1) structuring of the AL 5182 surface, (2) removal of the resin layer on top of carbon fibers, and (3) structuring of the carbon fibers. CFPC specimens of T700S carbon fiber, Prepreg—T83 epoxy, 5 ply thick, 0°/90° plaques were used. The effects of laser fluence, scanning speed, and number of shots-per-spot were investigated on the removal rate of the resin without an excessive damage of the fibers. Optical micrographs, 3D imaging, and scanning electron microscope imaging were used to study the effect of the laser processing on the surface morphology. It was found that an effective resin ablation and a low density of broken fibers for CFPC specimens was attained using laser fluences of 1-2 J/cm2 and number of 2-4 pulses per spot. A relatively large area of periodic line structures due to energy interference were formed on the aluminum surface at laser fluences of 12 J/cm2 and number of 4-6 pulses per spot.

Embedded Active Fiber Optic Sensing Network for Structural Health Monitoring in Harsh Environments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Anbo

This report summarizes technical progress on the program “Embedded Active Fiber Optic Sensing Network for Structural Health Monitoring in Harsh Environments” funded by the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, and performed by the Center for Photonics Technology at Virginia Tech. The objective of this project is to develop a first-of-a-kind technology for remote fiber optic generation and detection of acoustic waves for structural health monitoring in harsh environments. During the project period, which is from April 1, 2013 to Septemeber 30, 2016, three different acoustic generation mechanisms were studied in detail for their applications inmore » building a fiber optic acoustic generation unit (AGU), including laser induced plasma breakdown (LIP), Erbium-doped fiber laser absorption, and metal laser absorption. By comparing the performance of the AGUs designed based on these three mechanisms and analyzing the experimental results with simulations, the metal laser absorption method was selected to build a complete fiber optic structure health monitoring (FO-SHM) system for the proposed high temperature multi-parameter structure health monitoring application. Based on the simulation of elastic wave propagation and fiber Bragg grating acoustic pulse detection, an FO-SHM element together with a completed interrogation system were designed and built. This system was first tested on an aluminum piece in the low-temperature range and successfully demonstrated its capability of multi-parameter monitoring and multi-point sensing. In the later stages of the project, the research was focused on improving the surface attachment design and preparing the FO-SHM element for high temperature environment tests. After several upgrades to the surface attachment methods, the FO-SHM element was able to work reliably up to 600oC when attached to P91 pipes, which are the target material of this project. In the final stage of this project, this FO-SHM sensing system was tested in the simulated harsh environment for its multi-parameter monitoring performance and high-temperature survivability.« less

Chemical, biochemical, and environmental fiber sensors III; Proceedings of the Meeting, Boston, MA, Sept. 4, 5, 1991

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lieberman, Robert A.

Various papers on chemical, biochemical, and environmental fiber sensors are presented. Individual topics addressed include: fiber optic pressure sensor for combustion monitoring and control, viologen-based fiber optic oxygen sensors, renewable-reagent fiber optic sensor for ocean pCO2, transition metal complexes as indicators for a fiber optic oxygen sensor, fiber optic pH measurements using azo indicators, simple reversible fiber optic chemical sensors using solvatochromic dyes, totally integrated optical measuring sensors, integrated optic biosensor for environmental monitoring, radiation dosimetry using planar waveguide sensors, optical and piezoelectric analysis of polymer films for chemical sensor characterization, source polarization effects in an optical fiber fluorosensor, lens-type refractometer for on-line chemical analysis, fiber optic hydrocarbon sensor system, chemical sensors for environmental monitoring, optical fibers for liquid-crystal sensing and logic devices, suitability of single-mode fluoride fibers for evanescent-wave sensing, integrated modules for fiber optic sensors, optoelectronic sensors based on narrowband A3B5 alloys, fiber Bragg grating chemical sensor.

Internal temperature monitor for work pieces

DOEpatents

Berthold, John W.

1993-01-01

A method and apparatus for measuring the internal temperature of a work piece comprises an excitation laser for generating laser pulses which are directed through a water cooled probe, and in an optical fiber, to a first surface of the work piece. The laser is of sufficient intensity to ablate the surface of the work piece, producing a displacement and a resulting ultrasonic pulse which propagates within the thickness of the work piece to an opposite surface. The ultrasonic pulse is reflected from the opposite surface and returns to the first surface to create a second displacement. A second continuous laser also shines its light through an optical fiber in the probe into the first surface and is used in conjunction with signal processing equipment to measure the time between the first and second displacements. This time is proportional to the time-of-flight of the ultrasonic pulse in the work piece which, with a known or detected thickness of the work piece, can be used to calculate the internal temperature of the work piece.

Internal temperature monitor for work pieces

DOEpatents

Berthold, J.W.

1993-07-13

A method and apparatus for measuring the internal temperature of a work piece comprises an excitation laser for generating laser pulses which are directed through a water cooled probe, and in an optical fiber, to a first surface of the work piece. The laser is of sufficient intensity to ablate the surface of the work piece, producing a displacement and a resulting ultrasonic pulse which propagates within the thickness of the work piece to an opposite surface. The ultrasonic pulse is reflected from the opposite surface and returns to the first surface to create a second displacement. A second continuous laser also shines its light through an optical fiber in the probe into the first surface and is used in conjunction with signal processing equipment to measure the time between the first and second displacements. This time is proportional to the time-of-flight of the ultrasonic pulse in the work piece which, with a known or detected thickness of the work piece, can be used to calculate the internal temperature of the work piece.

Total radiated power, infrared output, and heat generation by cold light sources at the distal end of endoscopes and fiber optic bundle of light cables.

PubMed

Hensman, C; Hanna, G B; Drew, T; Moseley, H; Cuschieri, A

1998-04-01

Skin burns and ignition of drapes have been reported with the use of cold light sources. The aim of the study was to document the temperature generated by cold light sources and to correlate this with the total radiated power and infrared output. The temperature, total radiated power, and infrared output were measured as a function of time at the end of the endoscope (which is inserted into the operative field) and the end of the fiber optic bundle of the light cable (which connects the cable to the light port of the endoscope) using halogen and xenon light sources. The highest temperature recorded at the end of the endoscope was 95 degrees C. The temperature measured at the optical fiber location of the endoscope was higher than at its lens surface (p < 0.0001). At the end of the fiber optic bundle of light cables, the temperature reached 225 degrees C within 15 s. The temperature recorded at the optical fiber location of all endoscopes and light cables studied rose significantly over a period of 10 min to reach its maximum (p <0.0001) and then leveled off for the duration of the study (30 min). The infrared output accounted only for 10% of the total radiated power. High temperatures are reached by 10 min at the end of fiber optic bundle of light cables and endoscopes with both halogen and xenon light sources. This heat generation is largely due to the radiated power in the visible light spectrum.

A model of optical trapping cold atoms using a metallic nano wire with surface plasmon effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thi Phuong Lan, Nguyen; Thi Nga, Do; Viet, Nguyen Ai

2016-06-01

In this work, we construct a new model of optical trapping cold atoms with a metallic nano wire by using surface plasmon effect generated by strong field of laser beams. Using the skin effect, we send a strong oscillated electromagnetic filed through the surface of a metallic nano wire. The local field generated by evanescent effect creates an effective attractive potential near the surface of metallic nano wires. The consideration of some possible boundary and frequency conditions might lead to non-trivial bound state solution for a cold atom. We discus also the case of the laser reflection optical trap with shell-core design, and compare our model with another recent schemes of cold atom optical traps using optical fibers and carbon nanotubes.

Cone penetrometer fiber optic raman spectroscopy probe assembly

DOEpatents

Kyle, Kevin R.; Brown, Steven B.

2000-01-01

A chemically and mechanically robust optical Raman spectroscopy probe assembly that can be incorporated in a cone penetrometer (CPT) for subsurface deployment. This assembly consists of an optical Raman probe and a penetrometer compatible optical probe housing. The probe is intended for in-situ chemical analysis of chemical constituents in the surrounding environment. The probe is optically linked via fiber optics to the light source and the detection system at the surface. A built-in broadband light source provides a strobe method for direct measurement of sample optical density. A mechanically stable sapphire window is sealed directly into the side-wall of the housing using a metallic, chemically resistant, hermetic seal design. This window permits transmission of the interrogation light beam and the resultant signal. The spectroscopy probe assembly is capable of accepting Raman, Laser induced Fluorescence, reflectance, and other optical probes with collimated output for CPT deployment.

Glue-induced birefringence in surface-attached FBG strain sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helminger, Dominik; Daitche, Alexej; Roths, Johannes

2014-05-01

The influence of the gluing process on the birefringence of surface-glued FBGs that were inscribed in highly birefringence (HiBi) optical fibers of type Panda was studied by monitoring the variation of the birefringence during the gluing procedure. The isothermal curing process at 100°C of the epoxy-based adhesive is characterized by the reduction of birefringence during curing. Significant transversal strain is introduced into the fiber during the cool down period, which is due to different thermal expansion coefficients of the silica and the glue. When the slow axis of the HiBi fiber is oriented parallel to the surface, the glue-induced transversal strain reduces the birefringence of the fiber by ΔB = -6.6 10-5 and when it is perpendicular to the surface, it is increased by ΔB = 1.1 10-5. It can be estimated that for conventional FBGs in single mode fibers a glue-induced birefringence in the order of ΔB = 3.4 10-5 can be expected, which has to be taken into account if in surface-mounted FBG-based strain measurements a high accuracy has to be achieved.

Development of SPR temperature sensor using Au/TiO2 on hetero-core optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitagawa, Sho; Yamazaki, Hiroshi; Hosoki, Ai; Nishiyama, Michiko; Watanabe, Kazuhiro

2016-03-01

This paper describes a novel temperature sensor based on a hetero-core structured fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor with multi-layer thin film of gold (Au) and titanium dioxide (TiO2). Temperature condition is an essential parameter in chemical plants for avoiding fire accident and controlling qualities of chemical substances. Several fiber optic temperature sensors have been developed for some advantages such as immunity to electromagnetic interference, corrosion resistance and no electrical leakage. The proposed hetero-core fiber optic SPR sensor detects temperature condition by measuring slight refractive index changes of TiO2 which has a large thermo-optic coefficient. We experimentally confirmed that the SPR resonant wavelength in the hetero-core SPR sensor with coating an Au film which slightly depended on temperature changes in the range from 20 °C to 80 °C. In addition, it was experimentally shown that the proposed SPR temperature sensor with multi-layer film of Au and TiO2 had the SPR resonant wavelength shift of 1.6 nm due to temperature change from -10 °C to 50 °C. As a result, a series of experiments successfully demonstrated that the proposed sensor was able to detect temperature directly depending on the thermo-optic effect of TiO2.

Metal–Organic Framework Thin Film Coated Optical Fiber Sensors: A Novel Waveguide-Based Chemical Sensing Platform

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Ki-Joong; Lu, Ping; Culp, Jeffrey T.

Integration of optical fiber with sensitive thin films offers great potential for the realization of novel chemical sensing platforms. In this study, we present a simple design strategy and high performance of nanoporous metal–organic framework (MOF) based optical gas sensors, which enables detection of a wide range of concentrations of small molecules based upon extremely small differences in refractive indices as a function of analyte adsorption within the MOF framework. Thin and compact MOF films can be uniformly formed and tightly bound on the surface of etched optical fiber through a simple solution method which is critical for manufacturability ofmore » MOF-based sensor devices. The resulting sensors show high sensitivity/selectivity to CO 2 gas relative to other small gases (H 2, N 2, O 2, and CO) with rapid (< tens of seconds) response time and excellent reversibility, which can be well correlated to the physisorption of gases into a nanoporous MOF. We propose a refractive index based sensing mechanism for the MOF-integrated optical fiber platform which results in an amplification of inherent optical absorption present within the MOF-based sensing layer with increasing values of effective refractive index associated with adsorption of gases.« less

Metal–Organic Framework Thin Film Coated Optical Fiber Sensors: A Novel Waveguide-Based Chemical Sensing Platform

DOE PAGES

Kim, Ki-Joong; Lu, Ping; Culp, Jeffrey T.; ...

2018-01-18

Integration of optical fiber with sensitive thin films offers great potential for the realization of novel chemical sensing platforms. In this study, we present a simple design strategy and high performance of nanoporous metal–organic framework (MOF) based optical gas sensors, which enables detection of a wide range of concentrations of small molecules based upon extremely small differences in refractive indices as a function of analyte adsorption within the MOF framework. Thin and compact MOF films can be uniformly formed and tightly bound on the surface of etched optical fiber through a simple solution method which is critical for manufacturability ofmore » MOF-based sensor devices. The resulting sensors show high sensitivity/selectivity to CO 2 gas relative to other small gases (H 2, N 2, O 2, and CO) with rapid (< tens of seconds) response time and excellent reversibility, which can be well correlated to the physisorption of gases into a nanoporous MOF. We propose a refractive index based sensing mechanism for the MOF-integrated optical fiber platform which results in an amplification of inherent optical absorption present within the MOF-based sensing layer with increasing values of effective refractive index associated with adsorption of gases.« less

[Optic method of searching for acupuncture points and channels].

PubMed

Gertsik, G Ia; Zmievskoĭ, G N; Ivantsov, V I; Sang Min Li; Iu Byiung Kim; Gil Von Iun

2001-01-01

A procedure is proposed to search for acupuncture points and channels (APC) by space-sensitive recording of optical radiation diffusely reflected by surface (dermal and hypodermal) tissues of the body. For this purpose, the body surface is probed by low-intensity infrared radiation from a laser or noncoherent (light-emitting diodes) source by using a fiber-optic multichannel sensor. It is shown that it is most advisable to apply sources at wavelengths of 840-850 and 1260-1300 nm.

4 channel × 10 Gb/s bidirectional optical subassembly using silicon optical bench with precise passive optical alignment.

PubMed

Kang, Eun Kyu; Lee, Yong Woo; Ravindran, Sooraj; Lee, Jun Ki; Choi, Hee Ju; Ju, Gun Wu; Min, Jung Wook; Song, Young Min; Sohn, Ik-Bu; Lee, Yong Tak

2016-05-16

We demonstrate an advanced structure for optical interconnect consisting of 4 channel × 10 Gb/s bidirectional optical subassembly (BOSA) formed using silicon optical bench (SiOB) with tapered fiber guiding holes (TFGHs) for precise and passive optical alignment of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)-to-multi mode fiber (MMF) and MMF-to-photodiode (PD). The co-planar waveguide (CPW) transmission line (Tline) was formed on the backside of silicon substrate to reduce the insertion loss of electrical data signal. The 4 channel VCSEL and PD array are attached at the end of CPW Tline using a flip-chip bonder and solder pad. The 12-channel ribbon fiber is simply inserted into the TFGHs of SiOB and is passively aligned to the VCSEL and PD in which no additional coupling optics are required. The fabricated BOSA shows high coupling efficiency and good performance with the clearly open eye patterns and a very low bit error rate of less than 10^-12 order at a data rate of 10 Gb/s with a PRBS pattern of 2³¹-1.

A Simple Small Size and Low Cost Sensor Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance for Selective Detection of Fe(III)

PubMed Central

Cennamo, Nunzio; Alberti, Giancarla; Pesavento, Maria; D'Agostino, Girolamo; Quattrini, Federico; Biesuz, Raffaela; Zeni, Luigi

2014-01-01

A simple, small size, and low cost sensor based on a Deferoxamine Self Assembled Monolayer (DFO-SAM) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) transduction, in connection with a Plastic Optical Fiber (POF), has been developed for the selective detection of Fe(III). DFO-SAM sensors based on appropriate electrochemical techniques can be frequently found in the scientific literature. In this work, we present the first example of a DFO-SAM sensor based on SPR in an optical fiber. The SPR sensing platform was realized by removing the cladding of a plastic optical fiber along half the circumference, spin coating a buffer of Microposit S1813 photoresist on the exposed core, and finally sputtering a thin gold film. The hydroxamate siderophore deferoxamine (DFO), having high binding affinity for Fe(III), is then used in its immobilized form, as self-assembled monolayer on the gold layer surface of the POF sensor. The results showed that the DFO-SAM-POF-sensor was able to sense the formation of the Fe(III)/DFO complex in the range of concentrations between 1 μm and 50 μm with a linearity range from 0 to 30 μm of Fe(III). The selectivity of the sensor was also proved by interference tests. PMID:24608007

A simple small size and low cost sensor based on surface plasmon resonance for selective detection of Fe(III).

PubMed

Cennamo, Nunzio; Alberti, Giancarla; Pesavento, Maria; D'Agostino, Girolamo; Quattrini, Federico; Biesuz, Raffaela; Zeni, Luigi

2014-03-07

A simple, small size, and low cost sensor based on a Deferoxamine Self Assembled Monolayer (DFO-SAM) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) transduction, in connection with a Plastic Optical Fiber (POF), has been developed for the selective detection of Fe(III). DFO-SAM sensors based on appropriate electrochemical techniques can be frequently found in the scientific literature. In this work, we present the first example of a DFO-SAM sensor based on SPR in an optical fiber. The SPR sensing platform was realized by removing the cladding of a plastic optical fiber along half the circumference, spin coating a buffer of Microposit S1813 photoresist on the exposed core, and finally sputtering a thin gold film. The hydroxamate siderophore deferoxamine (DFO), having high binding affinity for Fe(III), is then used in its immobilized form, as self-assembled monolayer on the gold layer surface of the POF sensor. The results showed that the DFO-SAM-POF-sensor was able to sense the formation of the Fe(III)/DFO complex in the range of concentrations between 1 μm and 50 μm with a linearity range from 0 to 30 μm of Fe(III). The selectivity of the sensor was also proved by interference tests.

Method and apparatus for white-light dispersed-fringe interferometric measurement of corneal topography

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hochberg, Eric B. (Inventor); Baroth, Edmund C. (Inventor)

1994-01-01

An novel interferometric apparatus and method for measuring the topography of aspheric surfaces, without requiring any form of scanning or phase shifting. The apparatus and method of the present invention utilize a white-light interferometer, such as a white-light Twyman-Green interferometer, combined with a means for dispersing a polychromatic interference pattern, using a fiber-optic bundle and a disperser such as a prism for determining the monochromatic spectral intensities of the polychromatic interference pattern which intensities uniquely define the optical path differences or OPD between the surface under test and a reference surface such as a reference sphere. Consequently, the present invention comprises a snapshot approach to measuring aspheric surface topographies such as the human cornea, thereby obviating vibration sensitive scanning which would otherwise reduce the accuracy of the measurement. The invention utilizes a polychromatic interference pattern in the pupil image plane, which is dispersed on a point-wise basis, by using a special area-to-line fiber-optic manifold, onto a CCD or other type detector comprising a plurality of columns of pixels. Each such column is dedicated to a single point of the fringe pattern for enabling determination of the spectral content of the pattern. The auto-correlation of the dispersed spectrum of the fringe pattern is uniquely characteristic of a particular optical path difference between the surface under test and a reference surface.

Bi-directional ultrasonic wave coupling to FBGs in continuously bonded optical fiber sensing.

PubMed

Wee, Junghyun; Hackney, Drew; Bradford, Philip; Peters, Kara

2017-09-01

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are typically spot-bonded onto the surface of a structure to detect ultrasonic waves in laboratory demonstrations. However, to protect the rest of the optical fiber from any environmental damage during real applications, bonding the entire length of fiber, called continuous bonding, is commonly done. In this paper, we investigate the impact of continuously bonding FBGs on the measured Lamb wave signal. In theory, the ultrasonic wave signal can bi-directionally transfer between the optical fiber and the plate at any adhered location, which could potentially produce output signal distortion for the continuous bonding case. Therefore, an experiment is performed to investigate the plate-to-fiber and fiber-to-plate signal transfer, from which the signal coupling coefficient of each case is theoretically estimated based on the experimental data. We demonstrate that the two coupling coefficients are comparable, with the plate-to-fiber case approximately 19% larger than the fiber-to-plate case. Finally, the signal waveform and arrival time of the output FBG responses are compared between the continuous and spot bonding cases. The results indicate that the resulting Lamb wave signal output is only that directly detected at the FBG location; however, a slight difference in signal waveform is observed between the two bonding configurations. This paper demonstrates the practicality of using continuously bonded FBGs for ultrasonic wave detection in structural health monitoring (SHM) applications.

Image Processing for Cameras with Fiber Bundle Image Relay

DTIC Science & Technology

length. Optical fiber bundles have been used to couple between this focal surface and planar image sensors . However, such fiber-coupled imaging systems...coupled to six discrete CMOS focal planes. We characterize the locally space-variant system impulse response at various stages: monocentric lens image...vignetting, and stitch together the image data from discrete sensors into a single panorama. We compare processed images from the prototype to those taken with

Strain Measurement during Stress Rupture of Composite Over-Wrapped Pressure Vessel with Fiber Bragg Gratings Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, Curtis E.; Grant, Joseph; Russell, Sam; Arnett, Shawn

2008-01-01

Fiber optic Bragg gratings were used to measure strain fields during Stress Rupture (SSM) test of Kevlar Composite Over-Wrapped Pressure Vessels (COPV). The sensors were embedded under the over-wrapped attached to the liner released from the Kevlar and attached to the Kevlar released from the liner. Additional sensors (foil gages and fiber bragg gratings) were surface mounted on the COPY liner.

Label-free DNA biosensor based on a peptide nucleic acid-functionalized microstructured optical fiber-Bragg grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Candiani, Alessandro; Bertucci, Alessandro; Giannetti, Sara; Konstantaki, Maria; Manicardi, Alex; Pissadakis, Stavros; Cucinotta, Annamaria; Corradini, Roberto; Selleri, Stefano

2013-05-01

We describe a novel sensing approach based on a functionalized microstructured optical fiber-Bragg grating for specific DNA target sequences detection. The inner surface of a microstructured fiber, where a Bragg grating was previously inscribed, has been functionalized by covalent linking of a peptide nucleic acid probe targeting a DNA sequence bearing a single point mutation implicated in cystic fibrosis (CF) disease. A solution of an oligonucleotide (ON) corresponding to a tract of the CF gene containing the mutated DNA has been infiltrated inside the fiber capillaries and allowed to hybridize to the fiber surface according to the Watson-Crick pairing. In order to achieve signal amplification, ON-functionalized gold nanoparticles were then infiltrated and used in a sandwich-like assay. Experimental measurements show a clear shift of the reflected high order mode of a Bragg grating for a 100 nM DNA solution, and fluorescence measurements have confirmed the successful hybridization. Several experiments have been carried out on the same fiber using the identical concentration, showing the same modulation trend, suggesting the possibility of the reuse of the sensor. Measurements have also been made using a 100 nM mismatched DNA solution, containing a single nucleotide mutation and corresponding to the wild-type gene, and the results demonstrate the high selectivity of the sensor.

Localized Temperature Variations in Laser-Irradiated Composites with Embedded Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors.

PubMed

Jenkins, R Brian; Joyce, Peter; Mechtel, Deborah

2017-01-27

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensors are embedded in composites to detect localized temperature gradients resulting from high energy infrared laser radiation. The goal is to detect the presence of radiation on a composite structure as rapidly as possible and to identify its location, much the same way human skin senses heat. A secondary goal is to determine how a network of sensors can be optimized to detect thermal damage in laser-irradiated composite materials or structures. Initial tests are conducted on polymer matrix composites reinforced with either carbon or glass fiber with a single optical fiber embedded into each specimen. As many as three sensors in each optical fiber measure the temporal and spatial thermal response of the composite to high energy radiation incident on the surface. Additional tests use a 2 × 2 × 3 array of 12 sensors embedded in a carbon fiber/epoxy composite to simultaneously measure temperature variations at locations on the composite surface and through the thickness. Results indicate that FBGs can be used to rapidly detect temperature gradients in a composite and their location, even for a direct strike of laser radiation on a sensor, when high temperatures can cause a non-uniform thermal response and FBG decay.

Localized Temperature Variations in Laser-Irradiated Composites with Embedded Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors

PubMed Central

Jenkins, R. Brian; Joyce, Peter; Mechtel, Deborah

2017-01-01

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensors are embedded in composites to detect localized temperature gradients resulting from high energy infrared laser radiation. The goal is to detect the presence of radiation on a composite structure as rapidly as possible and to identify its location, much the same way human skin senses heat. A secondary goal is to determine how a network of sensors can be optimized to detect thermal damage in laser-irradiated composite materials or structures. Initial tests are conducted on polymer matrix composites reinforced with either carbon or glass fiber with a single optical fiber embedded into each specimen. As many as three sensors in each optical fiber measure the temporal and spatial thermal response of the composite to high energy radiation incident on the surface. Additional tests use a 2 × 2 × 3 array of 12 sensors embedded in a carbon fiber/epoxy composite to simultaneously measure temperature variations at locations on the composite surface and through the thickness. Results indicate that FBGs can be used to rapidly detect temperature gradients in a composite and their location, even for a direct strike of laser radiation on a sensor, when high temperatures can cause a non-uniform thermal response and FBG decay. PMID:28134815

Writing Bragg Gratings in Multicore Fibers.

PubMed

Lindley, Emma Y; Min, Seong-Sik; Leon-Saval, Sergio G; Cvetojevic, Nick; Lawrence, Jon; Ellis, Simon C; Bland-Hawthorn, Joss

2016-04-20

Fiber Bragg gratings in multicore fibers can be used as compact and robust filters in astronomical and other research and commercial applications. Strong suppression at a single wavelength requires that all cores have matching transmission profiles. These gratings cannot be inscribed using the same method as for single-core fibers because the curved surface of the cladding acts as a lens, focusing the incoming UV laser beam and causing variations in exposure between cores. Therefore we use an additional optical element to ensure that the beam shape does not change while passing through the cross-section of the multicore fiber. This consists of a glass capillary tube which has been polished flat on one side, which is then placed over the section of the fiber to be inscribed. The laser beam enters the fiber through the flat surface of the capillary tube and hence maintains its original dimensions. This paper demonstrates the improvements in core-to-core uniformity for a 7-core fiber using this method. The technique can be generalized to larger multicore fibers.

Writing Bragg Gratings in Multicore Fibers

PubMed Central

Lindley, Emma Y.; Min, Seong-sik; Leon-Saval, Sergio G.; Cvetojevic, Nick; Lawrence, Jon; Ellis, Simon C.; Bland-Hawthorn, Joss

2016-01-01

Fiber Bragg gratings in multicore fibers can be used as compact and robust filters in astronomical and other research and commercial applications. Strong suppression at a single wavelength requires that all cores have matching transmission profiles. These gratings cannot be inscribed using the same method as for single-core fibers because the curved surface of the cladding acts as a lens, focusing the incoming UV laser beam and causing variations in exposure between cores. Therefore we use an additional optical element to ensure that the beam shape does not change while passing through the cross-section of the multicore fiber. This consists of a glass capillary tube which has been polished flat on one side, which is then placed over the section of the fiber to be inscribed. The laser beam enters the fiber through the flat surface of the capillary tube and hence maintains its original dimensions. This paper demonstrates the improvements in core-to-core uniformity for a 7-core fiber using this method. The technique can be generalized to larger multicore fibers. PMID:27167576

Concentric core optical fiber with multiple-mode signal transmission

DOEpatents

Muhs, J.D.

1997-05-06

A concentric core optical fiber provides for the simultaneous but independent transmission of signals over a single optical fiber. The concentric optical fiber is constructed of a single-mode or multimode inner optical fiber defined by a core and a cladding of a lower index of refraction than the core and an outer optical fiber defined by additional cladding concentrically disposed around the cladding and of an index of refraction lower than the first mentioned cladding whereby the latter functions as the core of the outer optical fiber. By employing such an optical fiber construction with a single-mode inner core or optical fiber, highly sensitive interferometric and stable less sensitive amplitude based sensors can be placed along the same length of a concentric core optical fiber. Also, by employing the concentric core optical fiber secure telecommunications can be achieved via the inner optical fiber since an intrusion of the concentric optical fiber will first cause a variation in the light being transmitted through the outer optical fiber and this variation of light being used to trigger a suitable alarm indicative of the intrusion. 3 figs.

Concentric core optical fiber with multiple-mode signal transmission

DOEpatents

Muhs, Jeffrey D.

1997-01-01

A concentric core optical fiber provides for the simultaneous but independent transmission of signals over a single optical fiber. The concentric optical fiber is constructed of a single-mode or multimode inner optical fiber defined by a core and a cladding of a lower index of refraction than the core and an outer optical fiber defined by additional cladding concentrically disposed around the cladding and of an index of refraction lower than the first mentioned cladding whereby the latter functions as the core of the outer optical fiber. By employing such an optical fiber construction with a single-mode inner core or optical fiber, highly sensitive interferometric and stable less sensitive amplitude based sensors can be placed along the same length of a concentric core optical fiber. Also, by employing the concentric core optical fiber secure telecommunications can be achieved via the inner optical fiber since an intrusion of the concentric optical fiber will first cause a variation in the light being transmitted through the outer optical fiber and this variation of light being used to trigger a suitable alarm indicative of the intrusion.

Hemodynamic monitoring in different cortical layers with a single fiber optical system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Linhui; Noor, M. Sohail; Kiss, Zelma H. T.; Murari, Kartikeya

2018-02-01

Functional monitoring of highly-localized deep brain structures is of great interest. However, due to light scattering, optical methods have limited depth penetration or can only measure from a large volume. In this research, we demonstrate continuous measurement of hemodynamics in different cortical layers in response to thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) using a single fiber optical system. A 200-μm-core-diameter multimode fiber is used to deliver and collect light from tissue. The fiber probe can be stereotaxically implanted into the brain region of interest at any depth to measure the di use reflectance spectra from a tissue volume of 0.02-0.03 mm3 near the fiber tip. Oxygenation is then extracted from the reflectance spectra using an algorithm based on Monte Carlo simulations. Measurements were performed on the surface (cortical layer I) and at 1.5 mm depth (cortical layer VI) of the motor cortex in anesthetized rats with thalamic DBS. Preliminary results revealed the oxygenation changes in response to DBS. Moreover, the baseline as well as the stimulus-evoked change in oxygenation were different at the two depths of cortex.

Meta-tips for lab-on-fiber optrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Principe, M.; Consales, M.; Micco, A.; Crescitelli, A.; Castaldi, G.; Esposito, E.; La Ferrara, V.; Cutolo, A.; Galdi, V.; Cusano, A.

2016-05-01

We realize the first optical-fiber "meta-tip" that integrates a metasurface on the tip of an optical fiber. In our proposed configuration a Babinet-inverted plasmonic metasurface is fabricated by patterning (via focused-ion-beam) an array of rectangular aperture nanoantennas in a thin gold film. Via spatial modulation of the nanoantennas size, we properly tune their resonances so as to impress abrupt arbitrary phase variations in the transmitted field wavefront. As a proof-of-principle, we fabricate and characterize several prototypes implementing in the near-infrared the beam-steering with various angles. We also explore the limit case where surface waves are excited, and its capability to work as refractive index sensors. Notably, its sensitivity overwhelms that of the corresponding gradient-free plasmonic array, thus paving the way to the use of metasurfaces for label-free chemical and biological sensing. Our experimental results, in fairly good agreement with numerical predictions, demonstrate the practical feasibility of the meta-tip concept, and set the stage for the integration of metasurfaces, and their exceptional capabilities to manipulate light, in fiber-optics technological platforms, within the emerging "lab-on-fiber" paradigm.

Surface normal coupling to multiple-slot and cover-slotted silicon nanocrystalline waveguides and ring resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Covey, John; Chen, Ray T.

2014-03-01

Grating couplers are ideal for coupling into the tightly confined propagation modes of semiconductor waveguides. In addition, nonlinear optics has benefited from the sub-diffraction limit confinement of horizontal slot waveguides. By combining these two advancements, slot-based nonlinear optics with mode areas less than 0.02 μm2 can become as routine as twisting fiber connectors together. Surface normal fiber alignment to a chip is also highly desirable from time, cost, and manufacturing considerations. To meet these considerable design challenges, a custom genetic algorithm is created which, starting from purely random designs, creates a unique four stage grating coupler for two novel horizontal slot waveguide platforms. For horizontal multiple-slot waveguides filled with silicon nanocrystal, a theoretical fiber-towaveguide coupling efficiency of 68% is obtained. For thin silicon waveguides clad with optically active silicon nanocrystal, known as cover-slot waveguides, a theoretical fiber-to-waveguide coupling efficiency of 47% is obtained, and 1 dB and 3 dB theoretical bandwidths of 70 nm and 150 nm are obtained, respectively. Both waveguide platforms are fabricated from scratch, and their respective on-chip grating couplers are experimentally measured from a standard single mode fiber array that is mounted surface normally. The horizontal multiple-slot grating coupler achieved an experimental 60% coupling efficiency, and the horizontal cover-slot grating coupler achieved an experimental 38.7% coupling efficiency, with an extrapolated 1 dB bandwidth of 66 nm. This report demonstrates the promise of genetic algorithm-based design by reducing to practice the first large bandwidth vertical grating coupler to a novel silicon nanocrystal horizontal cover-slot waveguide.

Novel silica surface charge density mediated control of the optical properties of embedded optically active materials and its application for fiber optic pH sensing at elevated temperatures.

PubMed

Wang, Congjun; Ohodnicki, Paul R; Su, Xin; Keller, Murphy; Brown, Thomas D; Baltrus, John P

2015-02-14

Silica and silica incorporated nanocomposite materials have been extensively studied for a wide range of applications. Here we demonstrate an intriguing optical effect of silica that, depending on the solution pH, amplifies or attenuates the optical absorption of a variety of embedded optically active materials with very distinct properties, such as plasmonic Au nanoparticles, non-plasmonic Pt nanoparticles, and the organic dye rhodamine B (not a pH indicator), coated on an optical fiber. Interestingly, the observed optical response to varying pH appears to follow the surface charge density of the silica matrix for all the three different optically active materials. To the best of our knowledge, this optical effect has not been previously reported and it appears universal in that it is likely that any optically active material can be incorporated into the silica matrix to respond to solution pH or surface charge density variations. A direct application of this effect is for optical pH sensing which has very attractive features that can enable minimally invasive, remote, real time and continuous distributed pH monitoring. Particularly, as demonstrated here, using highly stable metal nanoparticles embedded in an inorganic silica matrix can significantly improve the capability of pH sensing in extremely harsh environments which is of increasing importance for applications in unconventional oil and gas resource recovery, carbon sequestration, water quality monitoring, etc. Our approach opens a pathway towards possible future development of robust optical pH sensors for the most demanding environmental conditions. The newly discovered optical effect of silica also offers the potential for control of the optical properties of optically active materials for a range of other potential applications such as electrochromic devices.

A plastic optical fiber sensor for the dual sensing of temperature and oxygen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lo, Yu-Lung; Chu, Chen-Shane

2008-04-01

This study presents a low-cost plastic optical fiber sensor for the dual sensing of temperature and oxygen. The sensor features a commercially available epoxy glue coated on the side-polished fiber surface for temperature sensing and a fluorinated xerogel doped with platinum tetrakis pentrafluoropheny porphine (PtTFPP) coated on the fiber end for oxygen sensing. The temperature and oxygen indicators are both excited using a UV LED light source with a wavelength of 380 nm. The luminescence emission spectra of the two indicators are well resolved and exhibit no cross-talk effects. Overall, the results indicate that the dual sensor presented in this study provides an ideal solution for the non-contact, simultaneous sensing of temperature and oxygen in general biological and medical applications.

Molecular imprinted polymer-coated optical fiber sensor for the identification of low molecular weight molecules.

PubMed

Lépinay, Sandrine; Ianoul, Anatoli; Albert, Jacques

2014-10-01

A biomimetic optical probe for detecting low molecular weight molecules (maltol, 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, molecular weight of 126.11 g/mol), was designed, fabricated, and characterized. The sensor couples a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) and the Bragg grating refractometry technology into an optical fiber. The probe is fabricated first by inscribing tilted grating planes in the core of the fiber, and then by photopolymerization to immobilize a maltol imprinted MIP on the fiber cladding surface over the Bragg grating. The sensor response to the presence of maltol in different media is obtained by spectral interrogation of the fiber transmission signal. The results showed that the limit of detection of the sensor reached 1 ng/mL in pure water with a sensitivity of 6.3 × 10(8)pm/M. The selectivity of the sensor against other compounds and its reusability were also studied experimentally. Finally, the unambiguous detection of concentrations as little as 10nM of maltol in complex media (real food samples) by the MIP-coated tilted fiber Bragg grating sensor was demonstrated. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optical inverse-square displacement sensor

DOEpatents

Howe, Robert D.; Kychakoff, George

1989-01-01

This invention comprises an optical displacement sensor that uses the inverse-square attenuation of light reflected from a diffused surface to calculate the distance from the sensor to the reflecting surface. Light emerging from an optical fiber or the like is directed onto the surface whose distance is to be measured. The intensity I of reflected light is angle dependent, but within a sufficiently small solid angle it falls off as the inverse square of the distance from the surface. At least a pair of optical detectors are mounted to detect the reflected light within the small solid angle, their ends being at different distances R and R+.DELTA.R from the surface. The distance R can then be found in terms of the ratio of the intensity measurements and the separation length as ##EQU1##

FIBER AND INTEGRATED OPTICS: Influence of diffraction-induced emission of light on resonant conversion of surface waves in diffraction-coupled optical waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiselev, V. A.; Shaposhnikov, S. N.

1989-09-01

An investigation is reported of diffraction-induced emission of surface waves under conditions of resonant transfer of light between different regular and corrugated waveguides. It is shown that the part of the emitted light flux carried by surface waves along diffraction-coupled waveguides depends strongly on the ratio of the effective refractive indices of the guides. The dependences of the optical coupling length and of the corresponding emitted light flux on the distance between the waveguides and on the difference between their refractive indices are given.

Fiber optic interferometry for industrial process monitoring and control applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marcus, Michael A.

2002-02-01

Over the past few years we have been developing applications for a high-resolution (sub-micron accuracy) fiber optic coupled dual Michelson interferometer-based instrument. It is being utilized in a variety of applications including monitoring liquid layer thickness uniformity on coating hoppers, film base thickness uniformity measurement, digital camera focus assessment, optical cell path length assessment and imager and wafer surface profile mapping. The instrument includes both coherent and non-coherent light sources, custom application dependent optical probes and sample interfaces, a Michelson interferometer, custom electronics, a Pentium-based PC with data acquisition cards and LabWindows CVI or LabView based application specific software. This paper describes the development evolution of this instrument platform and applications highlighting robust instrument design, hardware, software, and user interfaces development. The talk concludes with a discussion of a new high-speed instrument configuration, which can be utilized for high speed surface profiling and as an on-line web thickness gauge.

Fabrication of a chirped artificial compound eye for endoscopic imaging fiber bundle by dose-modulated laser lithography and subsequent thermal reflow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Shengfeng; Lyu, Jinke; Sun, Hongda; Cui, Xiaobin; Wang, Tun; Lu, Miao

2015-03-01

A chirped artificial compound eye on a curved surface was fabricated using an optical resin and then mounted on the end of an endoscopic imaging fiber bundle. The focal length of each lenslet on the curved surface was variable to realize a flat focal plane, which matched the planar end surface of the fiber bundle. The variation of the focal length was obtained by using a photoresist mold formed by dose-modulated laser lithography and subsequent thermal reflow. The imaging performance of the fiber bundle was characterized by coupling with a coaxial light microscope, and the result demonstrated a larger field of view and better imaging quality than that of an artificial compound eye with a uniform focal length. Accordingly, this technology has potential application in stereoscopic endoscopy.

Photoacoustic imaging of hidden dental caries by using a bundle of hollow optical fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koyama, Takuya; Kakino, Satoko; Matsuura, Yuji

2018-02-01

Photoacoustic imaging system using a bundle of hollow-optical fibers to detect hidden dental caries is proposed. Firstly, we fabricated a hidden caries model with a brown pigment simulating a common color of caries lesion. It was found that high frequency ultrasonic waves are generated from hidden carious part when radiating Nd:YAG laser light with a 532 nm wavelength to occlusal surface of model tooth. We calculated by Fourier transform and found that the waveform from the carious part provides frequency components of approximately from 0.5 to 1.2 MHz. Then a photoacoustic imaging system using a bundle of hollow optical fiber was fabricated for clinical applications. From intensity map of frequency components in 0.5-1.2 MHz, photoacoustic images of hidden caries in the simulated samples were successfully obtained.

Large Volume, Behaviorally-relevant Illumination for Optogenetics in Non-human Primates.

PubMed

Acker, Leah C; Pino, Erica N; Boyden, Edward S; Desimone, Robert

2017-10-03

This protocol describes a large-volume illuminator, which was developed for optogenetic manipulations in the non-human primate brain. The illuminator is a modified plastic optical fiber with etched tip, such that the light emitting surface area is > 100x that of a conventional fiber. In addition to describing the construction of the large-volume illuminator, this protocol details the quality-control calibration used to ensure even light distribution. Further, this protocol describes techniques for inserting and removing the large volume illuminator. Both superficial and deep structures may be illuminated. This large volume illuminator does not need to be physically coupled to an electrode, and because the illuminator is made of plastic, not glass, it will simply bend in circumstances when traditional optical fibers would shatter. Because this illuminator delivers light over behaviorally-relevant tissue volumes (≈ 10 mm 3 ) with no greater penetration damage than a conventional optical fiber, it facilitates behavioral studies using optogenetics in non-human primates.

Fiber Optic Bragg Grating Sensors for Thermographic Detection of Subsurface Anomalies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allison, Sidney G.; Winfree, William P.; Wu, Meng-Chou

2009-01-01

Conventional thermography with an infrared imager has been shown to be an extremely viable technique for nondestructively detecting subsurface anomalies such as thickness variations due to corrosion. A recently developed technique using fiber optic sensors to measure temperature holds potential for performing similar inspections without requiring an infrared imager. The structure is heated using a heat source such as a quartz lamp with fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors at the surface of the structure to detect temperature. Investigated structures include a stainless steel plate with thickness variations simulated by small platelets attached to the back side using thermal grease. A relationship is shown between the FBG sensor thermal response and variations in material thickness. For comparison, finite element modeling was performed and found to agree closely with the fiber optic thermography results. This technique shows potential for applications where FBG sensors are already bonded to structures for Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM) strain measurements and can serve dual-use by also performing thermographic detection of subsurface anomalies.

Fiber optical tweezers for microscale and nanoscale particle manipulation and force sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yuxiang

2011-12-01

Optical tweezers have been an important tool in biology and physics for studying single molecules and colloidal systems. Most of current optical tweezers are built with microscope objectives, which are: i) expensive, ii) bulky and hard to integrate, iii) sensitive to environmental fluctuations, iv) limited in terms of working distances from the substrate, and v) rigid with the requirements on the substrate (transparent substrate made with glass and with a fixed thickness). These limitations of objective-based optical tweezers prevent them from being miniaturized. Fiber optical tweezers can provide a solution for cost reduction and miniaturization, and these optical tweezers can be potentially used in microfluidic systems. However, the existing fiber optical tweezers have the following limitations: i) low trapping efficiency due to weakly focused beams, ii) lack of the ability to control the positions of multiple particles simultaneously, and iii) limited functionalities. The overall objective of this dissertation work is to further the fundamental understanding of fiber optical tweezers through experimental study and modeling, and to develop novel fiber optical tweezers systems to enhance the capability and functionalities of fiber optical tweezers as microscale and nanoscale manipulators/sensors. The contributions of this dissertation work are summarized as follows. i) An enhanced understanding of the inclined dual-fiber optical tweezers (DFOTs) system has been achieved. Stable three dimensional (3D) optical trapping of a single micron-sized particle has been experimentally demonstrated. This is the first time that the trapping efficiency has been calibrated and the stiffness of the trap has been obtained in the experiments, which has been carried out by using two methods: the drag force method and power spectrum analysis. Such calibration enables the system to be used as a picoNewton-level force sensor in addition to a particle manipulator. The influence of system parameters on the trapping performance has been carefully investigated through both experimental and numerical studies. ii) Multiple traps have been created and carefully studied with the inclined DFOTs for the first time. Three traps, one 3D trap and two 2D traps, have been experimentally created at different vertical levels with adjustable separations and positions. iii) Multiple functionalities have been achieved and studied for the first time with the inclined DFOTs. Particle separation, grouping, stacking, rod alignment, rod rotation, and optical binding have been experimentally demonstrated. The multiple functionalities allow the inclined DFOTs to find applications in the study of interaction forces in colloidal systems as well as parallel particle manipulation in drug delivery systems. iv) Far-field superfocusing effect has been investigated and successfully demonstrated with a fiber-based surface plasmonic (SP) lens for the first time. A planar SP lens with a set of concentric nanoscale rings on a fiber endface has been developed. For the first time, a focus size that is comparable to the smallest achievable focus size of high NA objective lenses has been achieved with the fiber-based SP lens. The fiber-based SP lens can bridge the nanoscale particles/systems and the macroscale power sources/detectors, which has been a long standing challenge for nanophotonics. In addition to optical trapping, the fiber-based SP lens will impact many applications including high-resolution lithography, high-resolution fluorescence detection, and sub-wavelength imaging. v) Trapping ability enhanced with the fiber-based SP lens has been successfully demonstrated. With the help of the fiber-based SP lens, the trapping efficiency of fiber optical tweezers has been significantly enhanced, which is comparable with that of objective-based optical tweezers. A submicron-sized bacterium has been successfully trapped in three dimensions for the first time with optical tweezers based on single fibers.

High temperature heat source generation with quasi-continuous wave semiconductor lasers at power levels of 6 W for medical use.

PubMed

Fujimoto, Takahiro; Imai, Yusuke; Tei, Kazuyoku; Ito, Shinobu; Kanazawa, Hideko; Yamaguchi, Shigeru

2014-01-01

We investigate a technology to create a high temperature heat source on the tip surface of the glass fiber proposed for medical surgery applications. Using 4 to 6 W power level semiconductor lasers at a wavelength of 980 nm, a laser coupled fiber tip was preprocessed to contain a certain amount of titanium oxide powder with a depth of 100 μm from the tip surface so that the irradiated low laser energy could be perfectly absorbed to be transferred to thermal energy. Thus, the laser treatment can be performed without suffering from any optical characteristic of the material. A semiconductor laser was operated quasi-continuous wave mode pulse time duration of 180 ms and >95% of the laser energy was converted to thermal energy in the fiber tip. Based on two-color thermometry, by using a gated optical multichannel analyzer with a 0.25 m spectrometer in visible wavelength region, the temperature of the fiber tip was analyzed. The temperature of the heat source was measured to be in excess 3100 K.