Special Issue "Optomechatronics"

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Alexander W. Koch
Technische Universität München, Institute for Measurement Systems and Sensor Technology (MST), Munich, Germany
Website: http://www.mst.ei.tum.de/der-lehrstuhl/professor-dr-koch.html
E-Mail: a.w.koch@tum.de
Interests: optical fiber sensors; optomechatronic measurement technology; laser- and video-based perception; environmental monitoring; multisensory systems; speckle-holographic measurement techniques; laser measurement systems; FTIR spectroscopy; image processing

Dear Colleagues,

The field of optomechatronics provides synergistic effects of optics, mechanics and electronics for efficient sensor development. Optical sensors for the measurement of mechanical quantities, equipped with appropriate electronic signal (pre)processing have a wide range of applications, from surface testing, stress monitoring, thin film analysis to biochemical sensing. The aim of this special issue is to provide an overview of actual research and innovative applications of optomechatronics in sensors. Papers addressing, inter alia, optical sensor principles, fiber-optic sensors, electronic speckle pattern interferometry, surface analysis, thin film measurement, FGB sensors, and biochemical sensors are welcome.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Alexander W. Koch
Guest Editor

Submission

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• optical sensor
• fiber-optic sensor
• speckle effect monitoring
• surface analysis
• thin film measurement
• fiber-Bragg grating sensor
• biochemical sensor

Title: High-Temperature Fiber Sensor Using Low Cost Interrogation Scheme
Authors: D. Barrera and S. Sales
Affiliation: ITEAM Research Institute, Optical and Quantum Communications Group, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain; E-Mail: ssales@dcom.upv.es
Abstract: Regenerated Fiber Bragg Grating fabricated on a high-birefringence fiber has been fabricated. The distance between the two Bragg
resonances has been used to reduce the cost of the interrogation units. The proposed scheme uses a modal interferometer to simplify the
interrogation setup to convert the wavelength shifts in intensity fluctuations. A temperature range over 1000ºC has been achieved.

Title: Refractive Index Sensor Based on the Resonant Coupling to Cladding Modes in a Fiber Loop
Authors: Mauricio Reyes ¹, David Monzón-Hernández ², Alejandro Martínez-Ríos ², Enrique Silvestre ³, Antonio Díez ¹, José Luis Cruz ¹ and Miguel V. Andrés ¹
Affiliations: ¹ Departamento de Física Aplicada, Instituto de Ciencia de los Materiales, Universidad de Valencia, Spain; E-Mail: miguel.andres@uv.es
² Centro de Investigaciones en Óptica A.C., Loma del Bosque 115, col. Lomas del Campestre, Leon, Gto., 37150 Mexico
³ Deartamento de Óptica, Universidad de Valencia, Spain
Abstract: We report an easy-to-build, compact, and low-cost optical fiber refractive index sensor. It consists of a single fiber loop whose transmission spectra exhibit a series of notches produced by the resonant coupling between the fundamental mode and the cladding modes in a uniformly bent fiber. The wavelength of the notches, distributed in a wavelength span from 1400 to 1700 nm, can be tuned by adjusting the diameter of the fiber loop and are sensitive to refractive index changes of the external medium. Sensitivities of 170 and 800 nm per refractive index unit for water solutions and for the refractive index interval 1.40–1.442, respectively, are demonstrated. We estimate a long range resolution of 3×10^-4 and a short range resolution of 2 × 10⁻⁵ for water solutions.