Ultra-highly sensitive surface-corrugated microfiber Bragg grating force sensor

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate a microfiber Bragg grating force sensor with ultra-high sensitivity. The fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is inscribed in a microfiber tapered from standard non-photosensitive single-mode fiber by focused ion beam machining method, and has a compact size (∼112 μm in length). Small diameter increases the force sensitivity of such grating when acting as a force-sensing element under tensile loads. We have demonstrated force sensitivity as high as ∼3146 nm/N around the resonant wavelength of 1538 nm, which is three orders of magnitude larger than FBGs in untapered fibers.