The period sensitivity and modal sensitivity of optical fiber force sensor based on mechanical induced ultra-long period fiber grating

Abstract

© 2016 IEEE. In this study, a mechanical induced ultra-long period fiber grating (MULPFG) with periods of several millimeter is demonstrated. The periodic grooved plate used to create the grating in the single-mode fiber (SM600) is the rectangular grooved plate which is fabricated by the 3D printer. The experimental results clearly show that the MULPFGs with the longer grating period are more sensitive to the perturbation force than the shorter grating period. The force sensitivity to the resonance wavelengths of the MULPFG with higher modes are more sensitive than the lower modes. The fabricated force sensor based on MULPFG by using the 3D printer is robust and stable in operation and exhibits a high-sensitivity of ∼ 0.470 nm/N. It offers the advantages of being inexpensive, erasable, and reconfigurable as well.