Open Access
Deposition of coatings on long-period fiber gratings: tunnel effect analogy
(Springer, 2006) Del Villar, Ignacio; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
The sensitivity of Long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs), coated with high-refractive-index thin film overlays, to the refractive index and the thickness of the overlay, and to the ambient refractive index, can be enhanced with a design based on a two-overlay coating of an LPFG. The first overlay of lower refractive index than the cladding affects the guidance of a cladding mode in the second overlay of higher refractive index than the cladding. This causes a more abrupt cladding modal redistribution than with the deposition of a unique high-refractive-index overlay. The phenomenon is analyzed with a method based on a vectorial analysis of modes and the application of coupled mode theory.
Open Access
Nanofilms on a hollow core fiber
(SPIE, 2006) Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Bravo Larrea, Javier; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Corres Sanz, Jesús María; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
We experimentally study the behavior of one multimode fiber–hollow core fiber–multimode fiber structure when nanofilms are deposited on it with the aim of developing practical evanescent field-based devices, such as sensors, filters, etc. The electrostatic self-assembly (ESA) method is used as the deposition technique and the chosen polymers are PDDA and Poly R-478 because of their well-known optical properties and their potential application as humidity sensors. Three different types of hollow core, fibers are used for the fabrication of the devices and at two different wavelengths. An oscillatory-decreasing transmitted optical power is obtained as the thickness of the nanofilms is increased.
Open Access
Influence in cladding mode distribution of overlay deposition on long-period fiber gratings
(Optical Society of America, 2006) Del Villar, Ignacio; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
A thin overlay of higher refractive index than that of the cladding of a long-period fiber grating induces in cladding modes strong variations in effective index, mode profile, cross-coupling coefficient with the core mode, and self-coupling coefficient. Some conditions must be met in order to obtain the highest inducement. The key parameters are the thickness and the refractive index of the overlay, and the ambient refractive index. Under optimum conditions, the sensitivity of the device to variations in any of the critical parameters is improved in a great manner. The result is large shifts of the attenuation bands in the transmission spectrum. If the refractive index of the overlay is complex, there is an additional phenomenon of vanishing of the attenuation bands in the transmission spectrum. This occurs for specific thickness values of the overlay. The problem is solved in two steps: a vectorial analysis of the modes and the application of coupled-mode theory
Open Access
Nanosensor for detection of glucose
(SPIE, 2004-06-09) Del Villar, Ignacio; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
A novel fibre-optic sensor sensitive to glucose has been designed based on electrostatic self-assembly method. The polycation of the structure is a mixture of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and Prussian Blue, whereas the polyanion is well-known enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx). The range of glucose concentration that can be measured is submilimolar and is located between 0.1 and 2 mM. Measures are based on a new detection scheme based on the slope of the change of signal produced by injection of glucose, yielding to a linear response. The sensor responses in a PH range between 4 and 7.4, which includes the physiological PH of blood. Some rules for estimation of the refractive index of the material deposited and the thickness of bilayers are also given.
Open Access
Optical fiber sensors based on indium tin oxide surface plasmon resonance supporting coatings
(SPIE, 2009-10-05) Ruiz Zamarreño, Carlos; Hernáez Sáenz de Zaitigui, Miguel; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
In this work, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based optical fiber sensors are revisited by using a transparent conductive coating, Indium Tin Oxide in our case, as the SPR supporting layer. The utilization of these coatings shifts the plasmon resonance band to the infra-red region and allows the tunability of the SPR wavelength by adjusting the film fabrication parameters. Here, we study the fabrication process of these novel devices and characterize their response to variations in the refractive index of the external medium opening the door to a wide range of applications.
Open Access
Volatile organic compound optical fiber sensors: a review
(MDPI, 2006) Elosúa Aguado, César; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Bariáin Aisa, Cándido; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
Volatile organic compound (VOC) detection is a topic of growing interest with applications in diverse fields, ranging from environmental uses to the food or chemical industries. Optical fiber VOC sensors offering new and interesting properties which overcame some of the inconveniences found on traditional gas sensors appeared over two decades ago. Thanks to its minimum invasive nature and the advantages that optical fiber offers such as light weight, passive nature, low attenuation and the possibility of multiplexing, among others, these sensors are a real alternative to electronic ones in electrically noisy environments where electronic sensors cannot operate correctly. In the present work, a classification of these devices has been made according to the sensing mechanism and taking also into account the sensing materials or the different methods of fabrication. In addition, some solutions already implemented for the detection of VOCs using optical fiber sensors will be described with detail.
Open Access
Quantum dots coatings inside photonic crystal fibers for temperature sensing
(IEEE, 2008-12-16) Arigita Lasheras, Jesús; Larrión Zabaleta, Beatriz; Bravo Larrea, Javier; Hernáez Sáenz de Zaitigui, Miguel; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Temperature sensors based on Quantum Dots (QDs) nanofilms deposited on the inner holes of a Photonic Crystal Fiber (PCF) was created using the layer by layer electrostatic self-assembly method. The structure is based on a PCF fiber segment spliced between two Standard Multimode Fibers (MMF) of different diameters. The sensors showed a linear variation of the intensity and wavelength emission for a temperature range from -20 ºC to 70 ºC.
Open Access
Long period fiber gratings with overlay of variable refractive index
(IEEE, 2005) Del Villar, Ignacio; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
A theoretical analysis is presented of a long-period fiber grating (LPFG) with an overlay of variable refractive index. The highest sensitivity of the resonance wavelengths to variations in the refractive index of the overlay can be optimized. There are two key points for a good design: the selection of an overlay refractive index close to that of the cladding of the LPFG and the overlay thickness. The problem is analyzed with a numerical method based on coupled-mode theory.
Open Access
Analysis of one-dimensional photonic band gap structures with a liquid crystal defect towards development of fiber-optic tunable wavelength filters
(Optical Society of America, 2003) Del Villar, Ignacio; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Claus, Richard O.; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
A theoretical analysis of a fiber optical photonic band gap based tunable wavelength filter is presented. The design presented here is based on the quarter wave reflector with a liquid crystal defect layer in the middle of the structure. The filter generated by the structure is shifted in wavelength as the voltage applied to the structure is modified. Some critical parameters are analyzed: the effect of the consideration of fiber as the first layer and not the input medium in the shape of the filter, the number of layers of the structure, and the thickness of the defect layer. This last parameter determines the width of the wavelength sweep of the filter, but is limited by the creation of more defects. Some rules of practical implementation of this device are also given.
Open Access
Enhancement of sensitivity in long period fiber gratings with deposition of low refractive index materials
(Optical Society of America, 2005) Del Villar, Ignacio; Matías Maestro, Ignacio; Arregui San Martín, Francisco Javier; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
It was proved [Opt. Lett. 30, 720 (2005)] that the deposition of an overlay of higher refractive index than that of the cladding on a long-period fiber grating (LPFG) causes large shifts in the attenuation bands induced by the grating. The result is an enhancement of the sensitivity of the LPFG to variations in the ambient and overlay refractive indices or the overlay thickness. The limitation of the previous design to materials with higher refractive indices than that of the cladding of the LPFG is overcome with a five-layer model. To this purpose, a first overlay of higher refractive index than that of the cladding of the LPFG will enhance the sensitivity of the device to variations in the refractive index of a second overlay of lower refractive index than that of the cladding of the LPFG. Moreover, it is proved that, if the second overlay is thick enough, its behavior resembles that of an infinite layer