Photonic crystal fiber modal interferometer for refractive index sensing of glycerine solution

Abstract

A photonic crystal fiber sensor was prepared for refractive index sensing. Based on modal interferometer theory, the relationships between the refractive index of glycerine solution and resonant wavelength shift of the sensor are analyzed by numerical simulation. A fiber optical device was designed to operate the sensing experiment. The sensing experiment shows that the resonant wavelength blued-shift for the sensor with refractive index in the range of 1.33~1.41 happens when increasing glycerine solution from 0.0% to 50.0% (v/v). The experimental results are approximately consistent with theory.