Multiple fluorescence sensing with side-pumped tapered polymer fiber

Fabrication and characterization of multi-tapered polymer fibers has been carried out in order to get an operative multiple fluorescence-based optical fiber sensor. Two different taper geometries, biconical and adiabatic, have been tested prior to its implementation in a multiple sensor arrangement. Light gathering capability from a side-pumped configuration has been studied for both devices and the dependence of this value with the incidence angle for the biconical case has been also established. Furthermore, a different approach to introduce fluorescent dyes inside the tapers is demonstrated in such a way that a local fluorescence transducer can be implemented in each tapered region of the fiber.