A miniature fiber-optic sensor for high-resolution and high-speed temperature sensing in ocean environment

Guigen Liu, Ming Han, Weilin Hou, Silvia Matt, Wesley Goode

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Temperature measurement is one of the key quantifies in ocean research. Temperature variations on small and large scales are key to air-sea interactions and climate change, and also regulate circulation patterns, and heat exchange. The influence from rapid temperature changes within microstructures are can have strong impacts to optical and acoustical sensor performance. In this paper, we present an optical fiber sensor for the high-resolution and high-speed temperature profiling. The developed sensor consists of a thin piece of silicon wafer which forms a Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) on the end of fiber. Due to the unique properties of silicon, such as large thermal diffusivity, notable thermo-optic effects and thermal expansion coefficients of silicon, the proposed sensor exhibits excellent sensitivity and fast response to temperature variation. The small mass of the tiny probe also contributes to a fast response due to the large surface-tovolume ratio. The high reflective index at infrared wavelength range and surface flatness of silicon endow the FPI a spectrum with high visibilities, leading to a superior temperature resolution along with a new data processing method developed by us. Experimental results indicate that the fiber-optic temperature sensor can achieve a temperature resolution better than 0.001°C with a sampling frequency as high as 2 kHz. In addition, the miniature footprint of the senor provide high spatial resolutions. Using this high performance thermometer, excellent characterization of the realtime temperature profile within the flow of water turbulence has been realized.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationOcean Sensing and Monitoring VII
EditorsRobert A. Arnone, Weilin W. Hou
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781628415759
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventOcean Sensing and Monitoring VII - Baltimore, United States
Duration: Apr 21 2015Apr 22 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9459
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherOcean Sensing and Monitoring VII
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBaltimore
Period4/21/154/22/15

Keywords

  • Fabry-Pérot interferometer
  • Fiber-optic sensors
  • high-speed detection
  • thermometer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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