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The understanding of how structural components endure loads, in particular variable loads, is that these components gradually, over some period of time depending on the nature of the loading and the material, develop a microcrack. After some additional time and loading, the microcrack grows to a size that might be detected. Beyond that point, the microcrack propagates in a manner that can be reliably predicted by computer analysis codes. Consequently, one can define different stages for the life of a structural component. These are: 1) the period prior to the formation of a microcrack, 2) the period of microcrack growth, and finally 3) the period of crack growth. To date, structural health monitoring approaches that seek to detect cracks offer no insight into the extent of deterioration occurring in the initial stage that is a precursor to the formation of the microcrack or its growth. However, an approach that would facilitate monitoring the extent of the deterioration that takes place during this stage promises to improve life prediction capabilities of structural components. The challenge, thus, is to develop quantitative assessment of damage accumulation from the earliest stages of the fatigue process and to provide a structure's signature that is dependent of the damage stage. One such signature is the structure's response to forced excitation. The realization of such a goal would help in advancing structural health monitoring procedures using interrogative system identification techniques and determine sensitivities of physical parameters to damage. Additionally, vibration-based spectral quantities are related to physical properties of the structure under test. In this thesis, nonlinear response to parametric excitation is exploited for nonlinear system identification of metallic and composite beam-mass systems before damage initiation through intermediate states of damage progression to failure. Parametric identification procedure combines linear and higher order spectral analysis of vibration measurements and perturbation techniques for the derivation of the approximate solution of the system nonlinear governing differential equation. The possibility of using optical Fiber Bragg Grating sensors technology for damage localization is also assessed. Spectral moments and quantities obtained from fiber optic strain measurements are evaluated near and away from cracks to assess the relation between these moments and cracks. Variations in parameters representing natural frequency, damping and effective nonlinearities for different levels of progressive damage in a beam-mass system have been determined. Their percentage variations have been quantified to establish their sensitivities to damage initiation. The results show that damping and effective nonlinearity parameters are more sensitive to damage conditions than the natural frequency of the first mode. Crack localization is assessed by means of optical fiber technology for a composite beam-mass system. The results show that noise levels in fiber optic signals are high in comparison to strain gage signals. Of particular interest, however, is the observation that the nonlinear response is more pronounced near the cracks than away from them. / Ph. D.

The health monitoring of smart structures in civil engineering is becoming more and more important as in-situ structural monitoring would greatly reduce structure life-cycle costs and improve reliability. The distributed strain and temperature sensing is highly desired in large structures where strain and temperature at over thousand points need to be measured simultaneously. It is difficult to carry out this task using conventional electrical strain sensors. Fiber optic sensors provide an excellent opportunity to fulfill this need due to their capability to multiplex many sensors along a single fiber cable. Numerous research studies have been conducted in past decades to increase the number of sensors to be multiplexed in a distributed sensor network. This dissertation presents detailed research work on the analysis, design, fabrication, testing, and evaluation of an intrinsic Fabry-Perot fiber optic sensor for quasi-distributed strain and temperature measurements. The sensor is based on two ultra-short and broadband reflection fiber Bragg gratings. One distinct feature of this sensor is its ultra low optical insertion loss, which allows a significant increase in the sensor multiplexing capability. Using a simple integrated sensor interrogation unit and an optical spectrum based signal processing algorithm, many sensors can be interrogated along a single optical fiber with high accuracy, high resolution and large dynamic range. Based on the experimental results and theoretical analysis, it is expected that more than 500 sensors can be multiplexed with little crosstalk using a frequency-division multiplexing technology. With this research, it is possible to build an easy fabrication, robust, high sensitivity and quasi-distributed fiber optic sensor network that can be operated reliably even in harsh environments or extended structures. This research was supported in part by U.S. National Science Foundation under grant CMS-0427951. / Ph. D.

The use of optical fiber sensors is increasing widely in civil, industrial, and military applications mainly due to their, (a) miniature size, (b) high sensitivity, (c) immunity from electro-magnetic interference, (d) resistance to harsh environments, (e) remote signal processing ability, and, (f) multiplexing capabilities. Because of these advantages a variety of optical fiber sensing techniques have evolved over the years having potentials for myriad of applications. One very challenging job, for any of these optical fiber sensing techniques, is to implement a stand alone system with the design and development of all the signal processing models along with the necessary hardware, firmware, and software satisfying the real-time signal processing requirements. In this work we first develop the equations for the system model of the wavelength modulated extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) optical fiber sensor, and then design and build all the hardware and software necessary to implement a stand-a / Ph. D.

Esta tesis investiga la aplicación de conceptos de codificación al diseño de sensores ópticos basados en redes de difracción de Bragg de Bragg (FBG). Específicamente, se presenta el diseño, la caracterización y la validación experimental de dispositivos de detección codificados personalizados que se pueden diseñar y fabricar como dispositivos FBG súper estructurados (SSFBG). El objetivo de esta tesis es mejorar la capacidad y el rendimiento general de los sistemas de detección óptica basados en sensores FBG convencionales. Para ello, se han propuesto tres metodologías de codificación de dispositivos de detección SSFBG, con el objetivo de dotar a cada sensor con información adicional útil para la identificación de cada sensor incluso en condiciones de superposición. Un sensor codificado basado en FBGs es una estructura FBG cuya forma se ha adaptado a una palabra-código ortogonal, de tal manera que su longitud de onda central se puede distinguir inequívocamente de otras señales en el espectro. El diseño de los sensores SSFBG codificados se realiza modificando el espectro de reflexión de dispositivos FBG multibanda, esto se logra traduciendo las palabras-código ortogonales en los términos de amplitud y fase de los sensores FBG. La codificación en amplitud de los sensores SSFBG consiste en traducir las palabras-código \textit{"Optical Orthogonal Codewords"} (OOC), desarrolladas para sistemas de comunicaciones de acceso múltiple por división de código óptico (OCDMA), en el patrón de reflexión de los dispositivos. La codificación en amplitud y fase se ha propuesto mediante dos enfoques diferentes: en el primero, palabras-código de amplitud y fase personalizadas ($ a_ {k} $, $ f_ {k} $) fueron diseñadas específicamente para exhibir un comportamiento ortogonal obtenido por la combinación de dos palabras-código. La técnica de interrogación basada en una fuente dual sintonizable fue específicamente diseñada para recuperar la medición diferencial de los sensores y decodificar efectivamente su información. El segundo enfoque utiliza las secuencias \textit{"Discrete Prolate Spheroidal Sequences"} (DPSS), que son secuencias mutuamente ortogonales desarrolladas para sistemas de comunicaciones. Se demostró el uso de estas estructuras como elementos de detección ortogonales con patrones específicos de fase y amplitud. La fabricación y validación experimental de los dispositivos SSFBG propuestos se realizaron para demostrar el rendimiento de los sensores inclusive en condiciones de superposición espectral. La longitud de onda central de los sensores se recupera con éxito en las tres metodologías, además, el error del sistema de detección se caracterizó en términos de los parámetros de diseño. / Esta tesi investiga l'aplicació de conceptes de codificació al disseny de sensors òptics basats en xarxes de difracció de Bragg de Bragg (FBG) . Específicament, es presenta el disseny, la caracterització i la validació experimental de dispositius de detecció codificats personalitzats que es poden dissenyar i fabricar com a dispositius FBG súper estructurats (SSFBG) . L'objectiu d'esta tesi és millorar la capacitat i el rendiment general dels sistemes de detecció òptica basats en sensors FBG convencionals. Per a això, s'han proposat tres metodologies de codificació de dispositius de detecció SSFBG, amb l'objectiu de dotar a cada sensor amb informació addicional útil per a la identificació de cada sensor inclús en condicions de superposició. Un sensor codificat basat en FBGs és una estructura FBG la forma de la qual s'ha adaptat a una paraula-codi ortogonal, de tal manera que la seua longitud d'ona central es pot distingir inequívocament d'altres senyals en l'espectre. El disseny dels sensors SSFBG codificats es realitza modificant l'espectre de reflexió de dispositius FBG multibanda, açò s'aconseguix traduint les paraules-codi ortogonals en els termes d'amplitud i fase dels sensors FBG. La codificació en amplitud dels sensors SSFBG consistix a traduir les paraules-codi extit \textit{"Optical Orthogonal Codewords"} (OOC) , desenrotllades per a sistemes de comunicacions d'accés múltiple per divisió de codi òptic (OCDMA) , en el patró de reflexió dels dispositius. La codificació en amplitud i phase s'ha proposat per mitjà de dos enfocaments diferents: en el primer, paraules-codi d'amplitud i fase personalitzades ($ a_ {k} $, $ f_ {k} $) van ser dissenyades específicament per a exhibir un comportament ortogonal obtingut per la combinació de dos paraules-codi. La tècnica d'interrogació basada en una font dual sintonizable va ser específicament dissenyada per a recuperar el mesurament diferencial dels sensors i descodificar efectivament la seua informació. El segon enfocament utilitza les seqüències \textit{"Discrete Prolate Spheroidal Sequences"} (DPSS), que són seqüències mútuament ortogonals desenrotllades per a sistemes de comunicacions. Es va demostrar l'ús d'estes estructures com a elements de detecció ortogonals amb patrons específics de fase i amplitud. La fabricació i la validació experimental dels dispositius SSFBG proposats es van realitzar per a demostrar el rendiment dels sensors inclusivament en condicions de superposició espectral. La longitud d'ona central dels sensors es recupera amb èxit en les tres metodologies, a més, l'error del sistema de detecció es va caracteritzar en termes dels paràmetres de disseny. / This thesis investigates the application of encoding concepts to the design of optical sensors based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) devices. Specifically, we present the design, characterization and experimental validation of custom encoded sensing devices that can be designed and manufactured as super-structured FBG (SSFBG) devices. The aim of this thesis is to enhance the capacity and the overall performance of the optical sensing systems based on conventional FBG sensors. To do so, three encoding methodologies of SSFBG sensing devices have been proposed, aiming to endow each sensor with additional information useful to identify each sensor even under overlapping conditions. An encoded FBG-based sensor is a FBG structure whose shape has been tailored after an orthogonal codeword in such a way that their central wavelength can be distinguished unequivocally from other signals in the spectrum. The design of encoded SSFBG sensors is performed by modifying the reflection spectrum of multi-band FBG devices, this is achieved by translating orthogonal codewords into the amplitude and phase terms of the FBG sensors. Amplitude encoding of SSFBG sensors consists in translating the binary optical orthogonal codewords (OOCs), developed for optical-code division multiple-access (OCDMA) communications systems, into the reflection pattern of the devices. Amplitude $\&$ phase encoding has been proposed in two different approaches: in the first one, custom amplitude and phase codewords ($a_{k}$, $f_{k}$) were specifically devised to exhibit orthogonal behavior by combining the two codewords. The dual-wavelength tunable interrogation technique was also specifically designed to retrieve the differential measurement of the sensors and effectively decode their information. The second approach uses the discrete prolate spheroidal sequences (DPSS), which are mutually orthogonal sequences developed for communications systems. We demonstrated the use of this structures as orthogonal sensing elements with definite phase and amplitude patterns. The manufacturing and experimental validation of the proposed SSFBG devices were carried out to prove the overlap-proof performance of the devices. The central wavelength of the sensors is successfully retrieved in the three methodologies, additionally, the error of the sensing system was characterized in terms of the design parameters. / Triana Infante, CA. (2018). Enoding optial FBG sensors to enhance the capacity of optial sensing systems [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/114824

The duty-cycle randomness (DCR) lying the Bragg grating of the distributed feedback (DFB) lasers introduced by the fabrication process is inevitable even with the state-of-the-art technologies such as the electron beam lithography and dry or wet etching. This thesis investigates the impact of grating DCR on DFB laser performance through numerical simulations. The result reveals that such a randomness causes a reduction on the side mode suppression ratio (SMSR), and deteriorates the noise characteristics, i.e., broadens the linewidth and increases the relative intensity noise (RIN). With the grating DCR, the effective grating coupling coefficient decreases as evidenced by the reduced Bragg stopband width. However, the longitudinal spatial hole burning (LSHB) effect in the DFB lasers can somewhat be diminished by the grating DCR. The seriousness of these effects depends on different grating structures and their coupling strengths. Our simulation shows that a degradation of 17dB can be brought to the SMSR of the uniform grating DFB lasers with their duty-cycles taking a deviation of ±25% in a uniformly distributed random fashion. It also broadens the linewidth of the quarter-wavelength phase-shifted DFB lasers by more than 2.5 folds. The impact of this effect on the RIN is moderate – less than 2%. All the performance deteriorations can partially be attributed to the effective reduction of the grating coupling coefficient around 20% by such a DCR. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Tesis por compendio / [ES] Con el continuo desarrollo de materiales y tecnologías de fabricación durante las últimas tres décadas, la atenuación de la transmisión de las fibras ópticas de polímero (POF) se ha reducido considerablemente. Las POF son ventajosas para las redes domésticas, así como para las interconexiones de almacenamiento, y tienen ventajas significativas para muchas aplicaciones de detección, que incluye el límite alto de tensión elástica, alta resistencia a la fractura, alta flexibilidad en la flexión, alta sensibilidad a la tensión y coeficientes termoópticos negativos. Esta tesis consigue mejorar la tecnología de irradiación con láser para POF e investiga dispositivos especiales basados en redes de difracción en POF para comunicaciones ópticas, microondas, fotónica y detección. En particular, desarrollamos la tecnología de fabricación rápida de FBGs en POF con un estudio detallado y la optimización de los parámetros de fabricación de redes de difracción de Bragg en fibra (FBG). Los resultados más destacados incluyen un FBG uniforme de 8 dB con un solo pulso láser Nd: YAG (26 nsm) (8 ns) basado en fibra dopada con BDK, que es el tiempo más corto presentado hasta ahora para la fabricación de FBGs en POF. La irradiación de fibras ópticas de polímero utilizando diferentes materiales basado en el láser KrF a 248 nm permitió demostrar un mejor rendimiento en comparación con el sistema que emplea el láser He-Cd a 325 nm. Además, se fabricaron FBGs uniformes en POFs de índice escalón dopadas con TS en menos de 1 segundo mediante la repetición de pulsos con baja energía. Finalmente, el estudio de la irradiación UV con pulsos de baja energía para la fabricación de redes de difracción estables permitió ahorrar energía en el proceso de fabricación de FBGs en POF, como uno de los principales requisitos para la producción en masa. Basándonos en la tecnología de fabricación mejorada, nos centramos en la fabricación de redes de difracción con diferentes estructuras: se fabricó un FBG con desplazamiento de fase utilizando dos pulsos de 15 ns a 248 nm KrF superpuestos por el método de Moiré; el primer FBG con chirp sintonizable se logró utilizando un solo pulso corto del láser, que abrió nuevas perspectivas a las aplicaciones basadas en redes de difracción con chirp en POF; también se propuso un nuevo método basado en gradientes térmicos para obtener FBG con chirp en POF basadas en FBG uniformes, y se demostró como la forma más conveniente publicada hasta la fecha para lograr este tipo de FBGs no uniformes en POF; y, finalmente, también se han fabricado redes de difracción de largo período utilizando un proceso de fabricación de corto tiempo, especialmente en comparación con investigaciones anteriores. En la última parte de la tesis, y en base a los dispositivos basados en redes de difracción obtenidos a lo largo de este trabajo, se han propuesto varias aplicaciones . De manera similar a los FBG en fibra de sílice, los FBGs con chirp en POF tienen muchas aplicaciones futuras en las áreas de comunicaciones ópticas y de los sensores. Este documento describe la aplicación de detección de tensión basada en una FBG con chirp sintonizable en POF, su aplicación para detección térmica en sistemas biomédicos; e ilustra el potencial de los dispositivos de dispersión sintonizables en el campo de las comunicaciones ópticas, bien como compensación de dispersión o en fotónica de microondas. / [CA] Amb el continu desenvolupament de materials i tecnologies de fabricació durant les últimes tres dècades, l'atenuació de la transmissió de les fibres òptiques de polímer (POF) s'ha reduït considerablement. Els POF són avantatjosos per a les xarxes domèstiques, així com per a les interconnexions d'emmagatzematge, i tenen avantatges significatius per a moltes aplicacions de detecció, inclosos els límits de tensió elàstica alta, alta resistència a la fractura, alta flexibilitat en la flexió, alta sensibilitat a la tensió i potencials coeficients termoópticos negatius. Aquesta tesi va millorar la tecnologia d'irradiació amb làser per a POF i va investigar dispositius basats en xarxes difracció de Bragg (FBG) especials en POF per a comunicació òptica, microones, fotònica i detecció. En particular, desenvolupem la tecnologia de fabricació ràpida de FBG en POF amb un estudi detallat i l'optimització dels paràmetres per a la seua fabricació. Els punts destacats dels resultats inclouen un FBG uniforme de 8 dB amb un sol pols del làser Nd: YAG (266 nm) (8 ns) basat en fibra dopada amb BDK, que és el temps més curt reportat per a la fabricació de POF FBG. La irradiació de fibres òptiques de polímer utilitzant diferents materials sota el sistema de làser KrF a 248 nm va permetre demostrar un millor rendiment en comparació amb el sistema de làser Kimmon de 325 nm. A més, els FBG uniformes en el POF dopat amb TS d'índex escalonat es van aconseguir amb menys d'1 segon mitjançant la repetició de polsos de control i l'energia baixa de pols. Finalment, l'estudi de la irradiació d'energia de pols per a la fabricació de FBGs estables va permetre estalviar energia en el procés de fabricació de FBGs en POF, com un dels principals objectius de la producció en massa. Basant-nos en la tecnologia de fabricació millorada, ens centrem en la fabricació de diferents estructures de xarxes de difracció: es va fabricar un FBG amb desplaçament de fase utilitzant dos polsos de 15 ns a 248 nm KrF superposats pel mètode de Moiré; el primer FBG amb chirp sintonitzable es va aconseguir utilitzant un sol pols curt de làser, que va obrir les aplicacions basades en FBG amb chirp en POF; també es va proposar un nou mètode amb gradients tèrmics per a obtindre FBG en POF basat en FBG uniformes, i es va demostrar com la forma més convenient publicada fins hui per a aconseguir FBG POF estimulada; i, finalment, també s'han aconseguit xarxes de llarg període utilitzant un procés de fabricació de curt temps, especialment en comparació amb investigacions anteriors. Finalment, sobre la base dels dispositius de xarxes de difracció obtinguts al llarg d'aquest treball, s'han proposat diverses aplicacions potencials en aquesta tesi. De manera similar que per als FBG amb silici, el FBG amb chirp en POF té moltes aplicacions potencials en comunicacions òptiques i a l¿àrea de sensors. Aquest document descriu l'aplicació de detecció de tensió basada en FBG amb chirp sintonitzable en POF; a més, l'aplicació de detecció tèrmica en sistemes biomèdics; i el potencial dels dispositius de dispersió sintonitzables en les comunicacions òptiques, com per eixample a la compensació de dispersió o a la fotònica de microones. / [EN] With the continuing development of material and fabrication technologies over the last three decades, the transmission attenuation of polymer optical fibers (POF) has been greatly decreased. POFs are advantageous for home networks as well as storage interconnections and have significant advantages for many sensing applications, including high elastic strain limits, high fracture toughness, high flexibility in bending, high sensitivity to strain and potential negative thermo-optic coefficients. This thesis improved the laser irradiation technology for POF and investigated special grating devices in POF for optical communication, microware photonics and sensing. In particular, we developed fast POF grating fabrication technology with a detailed study and optimization of the polymer optical fiber Bragg grating (POFBG) fabrication parameters. Highlights of the results include an 8 dB uniform POFBG with one single Nd:YAG (266nm) laser pulse (8 ns) based on BDK doped fiber, which is the shortest time ever reported for POFBG fabrication. The irradiation of polymer optical fibers using different materials under 248 nm KrF laser system allowed to demonstrate a better performance compared with 325 nm Kimmon laser system. Furthermore, uniform FBGs in step-index TS doped POF were achieved with less than 1 second by means of controlling pulse repetition and low pulse energy. Finally, the study of low UV pulse power irradiation for fabricating stable gratings allowed to save energy in the POF grating fabrication process, as one of the main goals for mass production. Based on the improved fabrication technology, we focused on the fabrication of different grating structures: a phase-shifted FBG was fabricated by using two 15 ns 248 nm KrF pulses overlapped by Moiré method; the first tunable chirped FBG was achieved by using a single laser short pulse, which opened the applications based on chirped POF BGs; also a novel thermal annealing method was proposed to obtain chirped POFBGs based on uniform FBGs, and proved as the ever published most convenient way to achieve chirped POFBG; and finally, long period gratings have been also achieved by using a short time fabrication process, specially when compared with previous research. Finally, based on the grating devices obtained throughout this work, several potential applications have been proposed in this thesis. Similarly, to silica chirped FBG, chirped FBG in POF have many potential applications in optical communications and sensing area. This document described the potential strain sensing application based on tunable chirped POFBG; also, the thermal detection application in bio-medical systems; and the potential of tunable dispersion devices in optical communications, i.e., dispersion compensation or microwave photonics. / Min, R. (2019). Polymer optical fiber gratings for microwave photonics and communications application [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/125473 / Compendio

Optical resonators such as silica micro-spheres and micro-toroids can support whispering gallery modes (WGMs), where light circulates near the resonator surface and is confined by the total internal reflection at the dielectric boundary. Such resonators can exhibit very high quality (Q) factors, since the resonator surface can maintain atomic level smoothness. The combination of high Q factors and small resonator volumes has led to a wide range of applications in sensing, optomechanics, nonlinear optics, and quantum optics. In this dissertation, we introduce a new type of whispering gallery resonators (WGRs) based on micro-droplets in an immiscible liquid-liquid system. Within such an all-liquid platform, it is possible to achieve highly nonlinear coupling between light and liquid that can potentially lead to single-photon level optical nonlinearity. Specifically, we experimentally characterize a droplet (D~500um) of index matching fluid submerged in the water as a high-Q optical resonator, where we use an optical fiber taper to couple light into the droplet through non-contact evanescent coupling. The highest Q-factor observed in the experiment is 2x10^7 which closely matches the upper limit of intrinsic Q-factor set by the material absorption. Given with such a high Q factor, the WGM can exert strong radiation pressure on the droplet interface, push it outward, increase the length of optical path, and produce a red-shift in WGM resonance. Our experimental results have found that the ratio of those resonance shifts and the optical power coupled into the resonator is approximately 60 fm/μW. The result closely matches to our steady-state estimation based on solving the coupled Maxwell-Navier-Stokes equation. To investigate the dynamic interplay of light and liquid, we develop a harmonic oscillator (HO) model to describe the time-domain behaviors of the coupled optofluidic system. We find a good agreement between theoretical predictions and our experimental data. The shift of WGM resonance can potentially be induced by thermal effects. To estimate the magnitude of thermal effects, we also investigate the thermally induced nonlinear behaviors of WGMs in a cylindrical fiber resonator (D~125um), where we change the mechanism of heat dissipation by changing the cladding material (e.g. air and water). For direct temperature measurements, we use a fiber optical resonator with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) inscribed in the fiber core to observe temperature shifts induced by the high-Q WGMs. Our result shows that the temperature increase in the fiber resonator in the water is 0.13 C, whereas the fiber resonator in air shows ~4.5 C increase in temperature. Our results suggest that the relatively high thermal conductivity of water suppresses thermal nonlinearity by ~50 times, and that the red-shifts of WGMs can largely be attributed to radiation pressure effect. / Ph. D. / Optical resonators are used to confine incoming light and store its energy in a small volume. The quality of such resonators’ optical confinement is represented by quality factor (<i>Q</i>). Among different types of optical resonators, whispering gallery resonator (WGR) is well known for its high-<i>Q</i>, where strong optical confinement is achieved by the total internal reflection at the curved internal surface of spherical / cylindrical dielectric volume. The combination of high <i>Q</i> factors and small resonator volumes has led to a wide range of applications in sensing, optomechanics, nonlinear optics, and quantum optics. In this dissertation, we introduce a new type of WGR based on oil micro-droplet in water. Such an all-liquid platform enables highly nonlinear coupling between optical power and liquid matter that can potentially lead to optical nonlinearity at single-photon energy level. Specifically, we experimentally characterize an oil droplet (<i>D</i> ≈ 500 <i>um</i>) submerged in the water as a high-<i>Q</i> optical resonator, where we use a tapered optical fiber to inject optical power into the droplet. The highest <i>Q</i> of whispering gallery mode (WGM) observed in our experiment is 2×10⁷ and given with the high amplification of optical power in droplet, the WGM can exert strong radiation pressure on the droplet interface, push it outward, increase the length of optical path, and produce a red-shift in WGM resonance. Our experimental results have found that the ratio of those resonance shifts and the optical power coupled into the resonator is approximately 60 fm/<i>μ</i>W. The result closely matches to our steady-state estimation based on solving the coupled Maxwell-Navier-Stokes equation. To investigate the dynamic interplay of light and liquid, we develop a harmonic oscillator (HO) model to describe the time-domain behaviors of the coupled optofluidic system. We find a good agreement between theoretical predictions and our experimental data. The shift of WGM resonance can potentially be induced by thermal effects. To estimate the magnitude of thermal effects, we also investigate the thermally induced nonlinear behaviors of WGMs in a cylindrical fiber resonator (D ≈ 125 <i>um</i>), where we change the mechanism of heat dissipation by changing the media (e.g. air and water) surrounding the resonator. For direct temperature measurements, we use a fiber optical resonator with a temperature sensor equipped inside to observe temperature shifts induced by the high-<i>Q</i> WGMs. Our result shows that the temperature increase in the fiber resonator in the water is 0.13 °C, whereas the fiber resonator in air shows ~4.5 °C increase in temperature. Our results suggest that the relatively high thermal conductivity of water suppresses thermal nonlinearity by ~50 times, and that the red-shifts of WGMs can largely be attributed to radiation pressure effect.

The different topics covered in this thesis include photosensitivity in germanosilicate fibers/glasses and application of fiber Bragg grating sensors in simultaneous strain and temperature discrimination. Fiber Bragg Gratings are wavelength dispersive refractive index structures manufactured through ultra-violet (UV) exposure of optical fibers. Their applications range from wavelength division multiplexing filters, dispersion compensators and fiber laser resonators for telecommunication applications to different types of point or distributive sensors for a variety of applications. One aim of this thesis has been to understand the mechanism of photosensitivity in germanosilicate fibers/preforms. Studies undertaken in this part of the thesis include thermal dynamics of Fiber Bragg Gratings and nano-indentation on ultra-violet irradiated germanosilicate glass preforms. An interesting, periodic appearance of a new peak has been observed in the reflected spectrum of Bragg grating inscribed in a germanosilicate fiber during thermal treatment. The new peak occurs on the longer wavelength side of the spectrum during heating and on the shorter wavelength side during cooling, following an identical reverse dynamics. A commercial grating with 99.9% reflectivity also shows a similar decay dynamics. The observed temperature induced distortion in refractive index modulation profile has been understood in the light of compaction-densification model. It is proposed that during the fabrication process of a grating, the modulation in the thermal expansion coefficient brought about by the interference fringes results in a non-uniform expansion throughout the grating length which in turn results in the distortion of the refractive index profile with increase/decrease in temperature. Since the reflection spectrum of a grating can be approximated as the Fourier transform of the refractive index profile, any distortion in the index profile results in the observed anomalous behaviour in the reflection spectrum. Nano-indentation studies have been performed to measure the changes in mechanical properties of a glass preform subjected to different levels of ultra-violet exposure. The results reveal that short term exposure leads to an appreciable increase in the Young’s modulus suggesting the densification of the glass, confirming the compaction-densification model. However, on prolonged exposure, the Young’s modulus decreases, which provides the first direct evidence of dilation in the glass leading into the Type IIA regime. The present results rule out the hypothesis that continued exposure leads to an irreversible compaction and prove that index modulation regimes are intrinsic to the glass matrix. In the second part of the thesis, three different schemes have been proposed for the use of Fiber Bragg Gratings as strain-temperature discriminating sensors: (a) The first method is based on the measurement of the different characteristic wavelength shifts of two types of gratings. Strain and temperature sensitivities of a Type I Bragg grating (G1) in germania doped silica fiber, fabricated under normal conditions, and zero strain, are compared with that of a Bragg grating inscribed under pre-strained condition (G2). Experimental results show that both, strain and temperature sensitivities of G1 and that of G2 are different. Based on this study, we have proposed an approach which enables simultaneous discrimination of axial strain and temperature. (b) In the second method, a single sensing element has been used to encode strain and temperature into an additional parameter other than the wavelength shift. The thermal out-diffusion of germanium from the core of a photosensitive fiber under elevated temperature is exploited to form a Fabry-Perot filter with a single Fiber Bragg Grating. The filter is fabricated using the standard phase-mask technique and one-time exposure. Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis is used to measure the out-diffusion. The filter is used as a sensor for simultaneous measurement and discrimination of strain and temperature. The proposed technique, where a single grating is used to discriminate the parameters, provides a large advantage over other existing methods. (c) In the third method, a compact design based on cross-wire arrangement of Fiber Bragg Gratings having identical Bragg resonance and different reflectivity is proposed for simultaneously sensing strain (uniaxial) and temperature. Two gratings are assembled orthogonal to each other on an aluminium base. The cross-wire design allows the two sensors to experience the same temperature but different strain. The gratings are identified by their respective reflectivity and, strain and temperature are resolved from the shift in Bragg wavelength. The proposed design exploits the fact that strain is a vector and temperature is a scalar parameter. This sensor has wide industrial application in discriminating strain from temperature effects.

In this thesis, we explore the four aspects of fiber Bragg grating sensors: mathematical modeling of Fiber Bragg Grating response/spectral characteristics, fabrication using phase mask, application and interrogation. Applications of fiber Bragg gratings, also known as in-fiber gratings, with emphasis on their sensing capabilities, interrogation of an array of sensors and their performance in structural health monitoring scenario are documented. First, we study the process of photosensitivity phenomenon in glasses, in particular GeO2:SiO2 glasses. For mathematical modeling we consider the 1-D refractive index profile along the propagation axis of an optical fiber drawn from the preform of such glasses. These 1-D index structures exhibit a bandgap for propagation along the fiber axis. We show how the bandgap is dependent on the two structural parameters: index periodicity and effective refractive index. The mathematical model provides the characteristics of three sensor parameters -resonance wavelength also known as the Bragg wavelength (λB ), filter bandwidth (ΔλB ), and reflectivity (R). We show that the evolution of the index structure in germanosilicate glasses is dependent on the inscription parameters such as exposure time, intensity of the laser used for inscribing, the interference pattern, and coherence of the laser system. In particular, a phase mask is used as the diffffacting element to generate the required interference pattern, that is exposed on the photosensitive fiber. We present a mathematical model of the electromagnetic diffraction pattern behind the phase mask and study the effect of the limited coherence of the writing laser on the interference pattern produced by the diffracting beams from the mask. Next, we demostrate the sensing capabilities of the fiber Bragg gratings for measuring strain, temperature and magnetic fields. We report linearity of 99.7% and sensitivity of 10.35pm/◦C for the grating temperature sensor. An array of gratings assigned with non-overlapping spectral windows is inscribed in a single fiber and applied for distributed sensing of structural health monitoring of an aircraft’s composite air-brake panel. The performance of these sensors is compared with the industry standard resistance foil gauges. We report good agreement between the two gauges (FBG and RSG). In some applications it is more desirable to know the spectral content, rather than the magnitude of perturbation. Fiber Bragg gratings sensors can be used to track events that occur in a very small span of time and contain high frequencies. Such applications demand very high speed wavelength demodulation methods. We present two interrogation techniques: wavelength-shift time-stamping (WSTS) and reflectivity division multiplexing (RDM). WSTS interrogation method employs the multiple threshold-crossing technique to quantize the sensor grating fluctuations and in the process produces the time stamps at every level-cross. The time-stamps are assembled and with the a priori knowledge of the threshold levels, the strain signal is reconstructed. The RDM methodology is an extension of the WSTS model to address multiple sensors. We show that by assigning unique reflectivities to each of the sensors in an array, the time-stamps from each of the sensors can be tagged. The time-stamps are collected by virtue of their corresponding pulse heights, and assembled to reconstruct the strain signal of each of the array sensor. We demonstrate that the two interrogation techniques are self-referencing systems, i.e., the speed at which the signals are reconstructed is instantaneous or as fast as the signal itself.