Intrinsic optical fiber temperature sensor operating by modulation of the local numerical aperture

Curvature of a multimode optical fiber reduces the numerical aperture and induces radiation losses. We study this phenomenon and we present the "model disadaptation" method to calculate the local numerical aperture and the power attenuation. We exploit the bending effect on the local numerical aperture to propose a new intrinsic optical fiber temperature sensor. The modeling results are experimentally validated for two kinds of optical fibers: a silica-silicone optical fiber and a silica-polymer optical fiber. The simulation and the experimental results are in good accordance and show that the silica-silicone optical fiber sensor can operate between -60 and 152 degrees C with a good response. The silica-polymer optical fiber temperature sensor can sense the temperatures between -249 and 83 degrees C with a good response. (c) 2007 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.