Ultra-sensitive fiber optic temperature sensor based on Vernier effect in cascading Sagnac loops integrated with PMFs.

An ultra-sensitive temperature sensor was proposed and demonstrated by inserting polarization maintaing fibers (PMFs) into cascading Sagnac fiber loops. Effect of the length of PMFs in an individual Sagnac loop on the temperature sensitivity of the sensor was firstly studied. As the PMF length reduces, the sensitivity increases. In the PMFs cascade Sagnac loops, the closer the lengths of the two sections of PMFs embedded in the Sagnac loops, the wider the free spectral range, resulting stronger Vernier effect and thus higher sensitivity. The temperature sensitivity of the cascade Sagnac loops is ∼ -44.28 nm/°C, a 27-fold increase than that of an individual Sagnac loop (∼-1.64 nm/°C). This newly developed temperature sensor has the merits of simple structure, high sensitivity and easy operation, and good competitiveness in the sensing field. • The sensitivity of the sensor is as high as 44.28 nm/°C. • The sensing structure is easy to realize. • The sensitivity is enhanced 27 times by Vernier effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]