POLARIMETRIC TEMPERATURE SENSOR - EXTINCTION RATIO AND SENSING LENGTHEXAMINATION

We theoretically and experimentally investigated the influences of the sensing and lead fiber length, the extinction ratio of the input pola rizer, and the coherence properties of the light source on polarimetri c temperature measurements. We have shown that there is a I possibilit y to construct a simple and inexpensive fiber optic polarimetric therm ometer for absolute temperature measurements by using a low extinction -ratio polarizer and a low-coherence source. An experimental temperatu re sensor for absolute temperature measurement that works in the range from 20 to 60 degrees C has been produced. (C) 1997 Society of Photo- Optical Instrumentation Engineers.