We report development of suspended-core silica and lead-silicate microstructured optical fibers for detection of liquids and supercontinuum generation. Theoretical analysis of effective mode area, dispersion curve, nonlinear coefficient and mode-field overlap is presented. For a specific lead-silicate fiber we determinated the zero dispersion wavelength at 1113 nm with a nonlinear coefficient of 1321 W-1km-1. For detection of liquids both silica and lead-silicate fibers are found to be suitable in different refractive index ranges 1.38-1.44 and 1.68-1.74 respectively. Coupling efficiency into all studied fibers over 40%; fiber attenuation was measured by the cut-back technique and is approximately 2 dB/m for silica glass fibers and over 3 dB/m for lead-silicate fibers.
This paper describes the refractometric detection of liquids based on silica multimode optical fibers which were tapered to increase the evanescent-wave overlap for higher sensor sensitivity. By precisely monitoring the production process, consistent sample parameters were achieved. More than 200 tapers with a taper waist diameter range from 6.0 to 76.3 μm were prepared from polymer-clad silica and gradient-index multimode fibers. U-shaped fiber taper sensitivities were analytically compared with straight tapers with resulting intensity sensitivities of over 200%/RIU. Crucial parameters for real sensor applications, such as measurement repeatability, reproducibility, and long-term stability, were further studied for polymer-clad silica straight tapers. Long-term stability was monitored showing stable measurement results over a 6 months long interval. Measurement repeatability and reproducibility with standard deviations of 0.55%/RIU and 2.26%/RIU, respectively, were achieved.
Whispering-Gallery-Mode (WGM) optical microresonators have attracted growing attention because of their big potential for chemical and biological sensing. Recently, optical bottle microresonators have been fabricated from short sections of optical fibers. These double-neck bottle-shaped microresonators have some features distinguishing them from spherical microresonators. They support non-degenerate whispering-gallery modes that exhibit two well-separated spatial regions with enhanced field strength. The free spectral range (FSR) of such microresonators is about one order of magnitude smaller than that of microsphere resonators of equal diameters. It means that these microresonators have much longer optical path-lengths and can be employed for highly sensitive detection.
The paper deals with the preparation and characterization of bottle optical microresonators fabricated from silica optical fibers. A simple 2D numerical modelling has been used to investigate basic spectral characteristics of microresonators with hexagonal cross-sections. Cylindrical bottle microresonators are prepared from optical fiber Corning SMF-28, while microresonators with hexagonal cross-section are prepared from an experimental hexagonal silica fiber. This novel type of bottle microresonators is expected to have much simpler mode structure than cylindrical bottle microresonators. There are compared two methods for the preparation of bottle microresonators in this paper. The first method is based on a combination of controlled local heating and tapering the fiber by the use of carbon dioxide laser Coherent GEM SELECT 50. The second method is based on weak tapering of the silica optical fiber with glass processing unit Vytran GPX-3400.
This paper deals with the preparation of spherical silica whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microresonators and with their resonance spectra measured in air and in acetone vapors. Spherical microresonators with a diameter ranging from 320 to 360 micrometers have been prepared by heating the tip of a silica fiber by a hydrogen-oxygen burner. Details of this preparation are shown on spherical and spheroidal microresonators. The prepared microspheres were excited by a fiber taper and their resonance spectra were measured and Q factors estimated. Changes in the resonance spectra of the microspheres due to their contact with acetone vapor heated to 55 °C or with liquid acetone have been observed. These changes are explained by interaction of acetone with silica and by temperature changes of the microspheres.
Opto-chemical transducer almost offers unlimited possibilities for detection of physical quantities. New technologies and research show a steady increasing of publications in the area of sensoric principles. For transfer to real world applications the optical response has to be converted into an electrical signal. An exceptional opto chemical transducer loses the attraction if complex and expensive instruments for analysis are requires. Therefore, the readout system must be very compact and producible for low cost. In this presentation, the technology platform as a solution for these problems will be presented. We combine micro structuring of silicon, photodiode fabrication, chip in chip mounting and novel assembly technologies for creation of a flexible sensor platform. This flexible combination of technologies allows fabricating a family of planar optical remission sensors. With variation of design and modifications, we are able to detect colorimetric, fluorescent properties of an sensitive layer attached on the sensor surface. In our sensor with typical size of 6mm x 6mm x 1mm different emitting sources based on LED's or laser diodes, multiple detection cannels for the remitted light and also measurement of temperature are included. Based on these sensors we proof the concept by demonstrating sensors for oxygen, carbon dioxide and ammonia based on colorimetric and fluorescent changes in the transducer layer. In both configurations, LED's irradiated the sensitive polymer layer through a transparent substrate. The absorption or fluorescence properties of dyed polymer are changed by the chemical reaction and light response is detected by PIN diodes. The signal shift is analyzed by using a computer controlled evaluation board of own construction. Accuracy and reliability of the remission sensor system were verified and the whole sensor system was experimentally tested in the range of concentrations from 50 ppm up to 100 000 ppm for CO2 and O2 Furthermore, we develop concepts to use the sensor also for interferometric detection of layer properties and the combination with capacitive structures on the surface. This allows detecting of thickness or refractive index variation of layers in future.
Off-axis holographic diffractive optics creates beams with an elliptic cross section. Focusing properties of that beams
differ from beams having a circular aperture. Axial intensity distributions of converging spherical waves behind elliptic
apertures are analyzed. Similarly to behaviour of circular cross section beams, main maxima move from the geometric
focus to the location of the aperture with decreasing the Fresnel number. However, their displacements and values are
higher than for the circumscribed circular aperture. Minima of curves do not achieve zero values as expected. All results
can not be given in closed form; only numerical results for specific parameters can be computed.
The measurement of pH in small objects (cells, drops of liquid etc.) using optical fluorescence-based sensors on optical
fiber tapers is one of the most widely used optical techniques. In these sensors the diameter of the taper can play
important role for collecting fluorescence from tested samples. This paper presents results of experimental measurements
of fluorescence intensity of dye sensitive to pH in a solution that is excited by a blue laser. The fluorescence of the dye is
collected by a taper tip. The fiber tips were prepared from a graded-index fiber with a core diameter of 50 μm.
Measurements with taper tips of different diameters have allowed us to estimated a limited tip diameter necessary for
collecting any fluorescence form the dye solution on a level of about 5μm.
This paper deals with a steering-wheel microstructure optical fibre designed prepared and tested for detection of gaseous
analytes. The inner structure of the steering-wheel microstructure fibre consists of a thin silica core that is surrounded by
three cladding holes. Numerical simulations showed that the evanescent wave of the guided fundamental mode at a
wavelength of 1550 nm penetrates into the cladding holes. The calculated overlap of the evanescent wave of guided
mode with the cladding holes of 0.78% can suitably be employed for gaseous analytes detection. The prepared steeringwheel
microstructure fibre was experimentally tested for detection of toluene vapors flowing in the cladding holes of the
fibre. It has been proved that this type of microstructure fibre can be used for detection of gaseous analytes such as
toluene in nitrogen or in air in concentrations of about 0.1 mol.%.
Local chemical sensing in living cells by fluorescence methods with submicron spatial resolution is in the scope of
biologist because of bringing new information about biochemical processes in living matter [1]. One of the most
important monitored variables is pH. Despite of progress of novel submicron probes suitable for in-situ measurement in
living cells [1] and biological micro samples [2] still there is a lack off suitable opto-chemical transducers sensitive
around pH 5-7 limiting development of novel fluorescence sensors. Moreover, the interaction of the immobilized
transducer with the matrix can strongly affect its fluorescence properties.
In our contributition the 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) fluorescence pH transducer
was incorporated into organosols based on tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS)
and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Formed organosols were spin-coated onto Pyrex glass substrates and
thermally treated at 140°C for 4 hours. Prepared thin layers were exposed to Britton-Robinson buffers with different pH
ranging from 4 to 8 pH units. Optical properties of immobilized BCECF were investigated by the mean of absorption and
fluorescence spectroscopy Acquired results were compared with the properties of BCECF solutions. It was found that all
matrices reduce the sensitivity of the BCECF transducer comparing to the free solution. GPTMS and APTES contained
layers exhibited better mechanical properties and increase the solubility of BCECF inside prepared layers comparing to
layers prepared from pure TEOS.
A size of tapered silica fibre probes makes them suitable for exploration of small objects, as e.g. cells. Fibre-optic probes
of enhanced mechanical durability can be advantageously used particularly for investigation of plant cells with hard
walls. The paper deals with preparation of suitable optical probes based on coated fibre tapers and their using for local
detection of extracellular pH in samples simulating native conditions of plant cells.
Fibre tapers from single-mode and polymer-clad-silica fibres were prepared by tapering apparatus of own construction.
The drawn tapers were immediately coated with a thin layer of Indium-Tin-Oxide in order to protect them from
embrittlement. A CO2 laser was used for cutting the tapered fibres in narrow taper waist. Opto-chemical transducer 2',7'-
Bis(2-carbonylethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein was immobilized onto the end-face of cut fibre tapers by a thin TEOS
layer. The pH was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy using excitation wavelength 473 nm.
The fibre taper probes of waist diameter from 80 μm to 2 μm and of suitable optical and mechanical properties were
prepared. Suitability of opto-chemical transducer 2',7'-Bis(2-carbonylethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein for detection of
samples simulating native conditions of pH ranging from 5.0 to 7.0 was confirmed. This approach has allowed us to
determine extra-cellular pH of in-vitro samples.
In chemical, oil, and food industries, there are still higher requirements on miniaturization of optical sensors for
a concentration measurement of gases e.g. a
CO2, O2, and NH3. The paper deals with development of miniaturised
optical sensor for an aqueous carbon dioxide measurement using a sensitive polymer layer. The optical sensor module
consists of two parts, a remission sensor and a removable layered structure (with incorporated dyed polymer) which is
closely placed on the surface of a remission sensor. A dyed polymer film is used as an optical-chemical transducer
working on a principle of colour changes caused by a chemical reaction of an analyte and indicator dye. A novel
remission sensor module was developed for an evaluation of the spectral absorption changes of sensitive polymer layer.
The remission sensor module composed of LED diodes located in a central cavity of the sensor module and PIN diodes
situated around the cavity. The LEDs emit light with optimised wavelengths and irradiate the polymer film. Light
response (the changes of the spectral absorption) of the irradiated polymer film is detected by PIN diodes. A colour shift
is further analyzed and evaluated by electronics without using a photometer.
Recently, optical fibre tapers have intensively been investigated for many applications e.g. in telecommunications,
medicine and (bio-) chemical sensing. The paper deals with enhancement of evanescent-field sensitivity of the solid-core
microstructured fibre with steering-wheel air-cladding. Enhancement of a performance of the microstructured fibre is
based on reduction of fibre core diameter down to narrow filament by tapering thereby defined part of light power is
guided by an evanescent wave traveling in axial cladding air holes. The original fibre structure with outer diameter of
125 µm was reduced 2×, 2.5×, 3.33×, and 4× for increasing relatively small intensity overlap of guided core mode at
wavelength of 1.55 μm with axial air holes. The inner structures of tapered microstructured fibre with steering-wheel aircladding
were numerically analyzed and mode intensity distributions were calculated using the FDTD technique.
Analyzed fiber tapers were prepared by constructed fibre puller employing 'flame brush technique'.
The paper shows an approach to the determination of pH changes of solutions with a fine spatial resolution by means of
fiber-optic tapers and fluorescence detection. This approach can be adopted for the determination of auxin flow through
celluar membranes. Spectral absorption and fluorescence of pH transducers, namely of fluorescein, carboxyfluorescein,
6,8-dihydroxy-1,3-pyrenedisulfonic acid disodium salt and 2',7'-bis(2-carbonylethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, were
tested. The approach, based on the determination of a shift of the maxima of their fluorescence peaks, was employed for
processing the measured fluorescence data in bulk solutions. Suitable tapered fiber probes were prepared and in vitro
demonstrated for pH monitoring in a pH range from 6 to 7.
Many important optical fiber components are based on tapered optical fibers. A taper made from a single-mode optical
fiber can be used, e.g., as a chemical sensor, bio-chemical sensor, or beam expander. A fused pair of tapers can be used
as a fiber directional coupler. Fiber tapers can be fabricated in several simple ways. However, a tapering apparatus is
required for more sophisticated fabrication of fiber tapers.
The paper deals with fabrication and characterization of fiber tapers made from a single-mode optical fiber. A
tapering apparatus was built for producing devices based on fiber tapers. The apparatus is universal and enables one to
taper optical fibers of different types by a method utilizing stretching a flame-heated section of a silica fiber. Fiber
tapers with constant waist length and different waist diameters were fabricated. The transition region of each fiber
taper monotonically decreased in diameter along its length from the untapered fiber to the taper waist. The fiber tapers
were fabricated with a constant drawing velocity, while the central zone of the original single-mode fiber was heated
along a constant length. The spectral transmissions of the manufactured fiber tapers with different parameters were
measured by the cut-back method.
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