White-light interferometric fiber-optic pressure sensor

A novel configuration for a fiber-optic white-light interferometric sensor is presented which allows for absolute measurements of hydrostatic pressure with an improved operation range. The performance of two fibers (York bow-tie 800 and especially designed elliptical-core side-hole fiber) used as sensing elements was experimentally studied. The sensor itself was composed of two equal lengths of the fiber spliced at 90/spl deg/. This structure assures temperature compensation and enables application of a Wollaston prism as a receiving interferometer. A step delay line made of crystalline quartz was used to increase the operation range of the sensor.<
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