Sensors (Jun 2016)

A Core-Offset Mach Zehnder Interferometer Based on A Non-Zero Dispersion-Shifted Fiber and Its Torsion Sensing Application

  • Eduardo Huerta-Mascotte,
  • Juan M. Sierra-Hernandez,
  • Ruth I. Mata-Chavez,
  • Daniel Jauregui-Vazquez,
  • Arturo Castillo-Guzman,
  • Julian M. Estudillo-Ayala,
  • Ana D. Guzman-Chavez,
  • Roberto Rojas-Laguna

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/s16060856
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 6
p. 856

Abstract

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In this paper, an all-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) based on a non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber (NZ-DSF) is presented. The MZI was implemented by core-offset fusion splicing one section of a NZ-DSF fiber between two pieces of single mode fibers (SMFs). Here, the NZ-DSF core and cladding were used as the arms of the MZI, while the core-offset sections acted as optical fiber couplers. Thus, a MZI interference spectrum with a fringe contrast (FC) of about 20 dB was observed. Moreover, its response spectrum was experimentally characterized to the torsion parameter and a sensitivity of 0.070 nm/° was achieved. Finally, these MZIs can be implemented in a compact size and low cost.

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