Citation: | Wang Chao, Huang Heyong, Meng Donghui, et al. Hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers: properties and sensing technology[J]. Opto-Electronic Engineering, 2018, 45(9): 180151. doi: 10.12086/oee.2018.180151 |
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Overview: In this paper, the unique properties and some recent sensing applications of hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers (HC-PBFs) are reviewed. Different to conventional all-solid fibers based on the principle of total internal reflection, in HC-PBF, most of light propagates in a hollow core region inside the fiber (typically > 95%). Hence, the core region of HC-PBF can be a contamination-free light-matter interaction channel with low loss, high energy density and long interaction distance. The air-propagation of light in HC-PBF would also reduces the impacts of fiber material properties (such as infrared absorption, thermos-optical effect) on the propagating light, hence offers an efficient platform for the sensing applications such as trace gas/liquid detection, optical fiber gyro sensing. Many high-sensitive single point and distributed/quasi-distributed gas sensing techniques based on HC-PBFs have been developed in recent years. Based on a photothermal interferometric detection method, the near-infrared HC-PBF acetylene sensing system can reach a detection limit of few ppb (parts per billion) level in noise equivalent concentration, and a dynamic range of about six orders of magnitude. The response time of long HC-PBF gas sensing systems can be improved by drilling side-holes along the fiber by using femtosecond laser. The average loss of the holes has been optimized to about 10-2 dB per hole. Liquids with different properties can be filled in the core or cladding region for a functional modification or extension. For example, the bandgap of HC-PBF can be adjusted by filling the liquid with specific refractive-index into the fiber. The fine silica-structure in HC-PBF exhibits novel mechanical and thermal properties, which would be beneficial to the sensing applications such as sound wave and vibration detection. The HC-PBF's porous structure can also be locally modified by applying various post-processing techniques, such as local heat treatment, micro-machining and selective filling. This would enable building novel in-fiber devices, for example long period gratings, polarizer and polarization interferometer et al. At present, the development of HC-PBF sensing technology has greatly expanded the sensing ability and application range of optical fiber. It is an important direction for the development of all optical devices and optical integration technology.
The cross-sectional schematics and refractive-index distributions of the optical fibers based on TIR principle. (a) Step-index fiber; (b) Gradient index fiber; (c) Photonic crystal fiber; (d) Suspended-core fiber
The cross-sectional schematics of hollow-core fibers with (a) 1-dimentional Bragg, (b) photonic bandgap and (c) anti-resonant structure
(a) Photonic bandgap structure with triangular hole-distribution; (b) The transmission spectrum and dispersion curve of a commercial available HC-PBF (model HC-1550-04 from NKT photonics)[6]
(a), (b) and (c) are the calculated dispersion curves of the hollow-core modes in 3-, 7- and 19-cell HC-PBFs respectively[8]
The measured mode distribution of 7-cell HC-PBFs with different fiber length and incident offsets. (a) Fiber length L=5 m, relative offset Δξ=0; (b) Fiber length L=35 m, relative offset Δξ=0; (c) Fiber length L=5 m, relative offset Δξ≈0.5[8]
(a) 4-cell HC-PBF with high birefringence[19]; (b) Modified 7-cell HC-PBF with high birefringence[20]; (c) Single-mode and highly birefringent HC-PBF with large aperture[10]
(a) Piecewise assembly method for long HC-PBF[30]; (b) Micro-channels that go straight to the core from the surface of HC-PBF[36]
Fiber optic thermal interference gas detection system based on HC-PBF. OC: optical circulator. FC: fiber coupler. PD: power detector. HPF/LPF: high/low pass filter. DAQ: data acquisition device. PZT: piezoelectric element[26]
Optical fiber optic cavity gas chamber based on HC-PBF[42]
Schematic diagram of distributed gas detection system based on OTDR and spectral absorption[45]
Distributed measurement results of 10% acetylene gas with a 75-m-length HC-PBF. Acetylene gas was applied at the position of 44 m [45]
(a) Distributed and (b) quasi-distributed gas sensing based on HC-PBFs[46]
The calculated transmission spectrum drift of a HC-PBF filled with different refractive index liquids[53]
Simulation results on the relationship between normalized acoustic response rate and the thickness of quartz outer layer (c~b) for HC-PBF with different air-filling rates[57]
(a) Side-view image of a 430 μm-pitch HC-PBF LPG made by CO2 laser; (b) The cross-sectional image of a HC-PBF LPG at the grooves; (c) The growth of the transmission spectrum of a HC-PBF LPG sample during fabrication[59]
(a) Schematic structure of an all fiber polarimeter; (b) The side-view photo of a optical fiber polarizer in a HC-PBF polarimeter, and the cross-section photos corresponding to (c) the unprocessed and (d) the processed positions; (e) The transmission spectra of a 531-mm-length polarimeter; (f) The response of a 147 mm long polarimeter to the twist rate[62]