Torsion sensor with an Yb-doped photonic crystal fiber based on a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

A Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) using an ytterbium doped photonic crystal fiber (YbDPCF) is presented as a torsion sensor. The MZI was fabricated by fusion splicing an YbDPCF between two single mode fibers (SMF), which spectral interference pattern is modified by applying torsion over the YbDPCF. For this arrangement the torsion sensitivity achieved was 0.001 nm/°. In addition, experimental results of polarization states and the group birefringence value are provided. This approach is compact, portable and inexpensive and it requires a very simple fabrication procedure.