WHITE-LIGHT INTERFEROMETRIC FIBEROPTIC PRESSURE SENSOR

A novel configuration for a fiber-optic white-light interferometric se nsor is presented which allows for absolute measurements of hydrostati c pressure with an improved operation range. The performance of two fi bers (York bow-tie 800 and especially designed elliptical-core side-ho le fiber) used as sensing elements was experimentally studied. The sen sor itself was composed of two equal lengths of the fiber spliced at 9 0 degrees. This structure assures temperature compensation and enables application of a Wollaston prism as a receiving interferometer. A ste p delay line made of crystalline quartz was used to increase the opera tion range of the sensor.