Influence of optical fiber coatings on the long-term accuracy of interferometric fiber-optic current sensors

We conducted accelerated ageing tests of different types of acrylate-coated elliptical-core polarization maintaining fibers that are used in fiber-optic current sensors. In particular, we determined how exposure to elevated temperatures affects the polarization extinction ratio of the fibers and, as a consequence, the sensor scale factor. The results show that the proper choice of the fiber coating is imperative for maintaining the sensor's long-term accuracy and reliability. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.