Planar flexible fiber-optic acoustic sensors

Author

Lagakos, N. ; Hickman, T.R. ; Ehrenfeuchter, P. ; Bucaro, J.A. ; Dandridge, A.

Author_Institution

US Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

8

Issue

9

fYear

1990

fDate

9/1/1990 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1298

Lastpage

1303

Abstract

The acoustic sensitivity of optical fibers is considered analytically. High sensitivity is obtained with low bulk modulus, very thick polymeric coatings. The fiber coatings play an important role in determining the fiber acoustic sensitivity. The very thick coating limit is realized by embedding optical fibers in an appropriate elastomer (polyurethane). A planar flexible fiber-optic interferometric acoustic sensor is developed by wrapping optimized single-mode fibers in a planar spiral form, and then embedding the fiber in a thin polyurethane layer. The acoustic sensitivity of the sensor is found to be high, and frequency (0.2-2.5 kHz) and static pressure independent. The sensor is found to be compatible with water, and is compared favorably to that of a planar polyvinylidene fluoride sensor of similar geometry

Keywords

acousto-optical devices; fibre optic sensors; light interferometry; 0.2 to 2.5 kHz; acoustic sensitivity; elastomer; fiber coatings; frequency; optimized single-mode fibers; planar flexible fiber-optic interferometric acoustic sensor; planar spiral form; thin polyurethane layer; very thick polymeric coatings; Acoustic sensors; Coatings; Frequency; Geometry; Optical fiber sensors; Optical fibers; Optical interferometry; Polymer films; Spirals; Wrapping;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.59156

Filename

59156