INFLUENCE OF OXYGEN ON THE GUIDING PROPERTIES OF V2O5-CLAD GLASS WAVE-GUIDE

An optical waveguide clad with V2O5 is proposed as a new type of oxyge n sensor in ambient air. The presence of gas changes the light transmi ssion (TE0-polarized mode) through the guide, due to the change in ref ractive index of the cladding which changes the effective index of the guide. O-2 gas concentration is varied from a few (approximate to 10) ppm to several percent (4%). Sensors exhibit the same sensitivity at a slightly elevated temperature. The increase in thickness of the clad ding causes a reduction in sensitivity and increase in linearity. It i s observed that the sensor exhibits the same performance using the sta tic or incremental mode.