The financial requirements between fiber optic sensors and conventional sensors are gradually declining, which, despite many advatages and wide range of applicationas, has slowed down the demand for these sensors. With the demand for fiber optic sensors also grow the requirements for the parameters of these sensors. This thesis deals with distributed temperature fiber optic sensors. Non--linear phenomen in optical fibers, such as Raman scattering is used for measuring with these sensors. This scatterin was used to obtain information about temperature, which effected the optical cable under the test.

This master´s thesis deals with communication which is provided by optical devices. Optical wireless links are enforced due to high bit rate, responsibility and noise immunity. Main part of this master´s project is devoted to optical fibre, its characteristic and its usage in laser transmitter.

This diploma thesis is focused on realisation of the application, that process and display measured data from OTDR device. The first section describes optical fibers, transmission characteristics of fibers and measurement methods of the attenuation on optical path. The second section describes the principle of the OTDR method and measured events on optical path. Final part is dedicated to realisation of the appication by the assignment.

Optical fibre sensors are employed in the measurements of a number of different physical properties or for event detection in safety and security systems. In those environments which suffer from electromagnetic disturbance, in harsh environments where electronics cannot survive and in applications in favour of distributed detection, fibre-optic sensors have found natural areas of use. In some cases they have replaced conventional electronic sensors due to better performance and long-term reliability, but in others they have had less success mainly due to the higher costs which are often involved in fibre-optic sensor systems. Intensity modulated fibre-optic sensors normally require only low-cost monitoring systems principally based on light emitting diodes and photodiodes. The sensor principle itself is very elemental when based on coupling between fibres, and coupling based intensity modulated sensors have been utilised over a long period of time, mainly within displacement and vibration sensing. For distributed sensing based on intensity modulation, optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) systems with customised sensor cables have been used in the detection of heat, water leakage and hydrocarbon fluid spills. In this thesis, new concepts for intensity modulated fibre-optic sensors based on coupling between fibres are presented, analysed, simulated and experimentally verified. From a low-cost and standard component perspective, alternative designs are proposed and analysed using modulation function simulations and measurements, in order to find an improved performance. Further, the development and installation of a temperature sensor system for industrial process monitoring is presented, involving aspects with regards to design, calibration, multiplexing and fibre network installation. The OTDR is applied as an efficient technique for multiplexing several coupling based sensors, and sensor network installation with blown fibre in microducts is proposed as a flexible and cost-efficient alternative to traditional cabling. As a solution to alignment issues in coupling based sensors, a new displacement sensor configuration based on a fibre to a multicore fibre coupling and an image sensor readout system is proposed. With this concept a high-performance sensor setup with relaxed alignment demands and a large measurement range is realised. The sensor system performance is analysed theoretically with complete system simulations, and an experimental setup is made based on standard fibre and image acquisition components. Simulations of possible error contributions show that the experimental performance limitation is mainly related to differences between the modelled and the real coupled power distribution. An improved power model is suggested and evaluated experimentally, showing that the experimental performance can be improved down towards the theoretical limit of 1 μm. The potential of using filled side-hole fibres and polarisation analysis for point and distributed detection of temperature limits is investigated as a complement to existing fibre-optic heat detection systems. The behaviour and change in birefringence at the liquid/solid phase transition temperature for the filler substance is shown and experimentally determined for side-hole fibres filled with water solutions and a metal alloy, and the results are supported by simulations. A point sensor for on/off temperature detection based on this principle is suggested. Further the principles of distributed detection by measurements of the change in beat length are demonstrated using polarisation OTDR (POTDR) techniques. It is shown that high-resolution techniques are required for the fibres studied, and side-hole fibres designed with lower birefringence are suggested for future studies in relation to the distributed application. / Fiberoptiska sensorer används för mätning av ett antal olika fysikaliska parametrar eller för händelsedetektering i larm- och säkerhetssystem. I miljöer med elektromagnetiska störningar, i andra besvärliga miljöer där elektronik inte fungerar samt i tillämpningar där distribuerade sensorer är att föredra, har fiberoptiska lösningar funnit naturliga applikationer. I vissa fall har de ersatt konventionella elektroniska sensorer på grund av bättre prestanda och tillförlitlighet, medan de i andra sammanhang har haft mindre framgång huvudsakligen på grund av den i många fall högre kostnaden för fiberoptiska sensorsystem. Intensitetsmodulerade fiberoptiska sensorer kräver normalt endast billiga utläsningssystem huvudsakligen baserade på lysdioder och fotodioder. Principen för sådana sensorer baserade på koppling mellan fibrer är mycket enkel, och denna typ av sensorer har haft tillämpningar under en lång tid, främst inom mätning av positionsförändring och vibrationer. För distribuerade intensitetsmodulerade sensorer har system baserade på optisk tidsdomän-reflektometer (OTDR) och skräddarsydda sensorkablar funnit tillämpningar i detektion av värme/brand, vattenläckage och kolvätebaserade vätskor. I denna avhandling presenteras, simuleras, testas och utvärderas praktiskt några nya koncept för kopplingsbaserade intensitetsmodulerade fiberoptiska sensorer. Från ett lågkostnads- och standardkomponentperspektiv föreslås och analyseras alternativa lösningar för förbättrad prestanda. Utveckling och installation av en temperatursensor för en industriell tillämpning, innehållande aspekter på sensormultiplexering och nätverksbyggande, behandlas. OTDR-teknik används som en effektiv metod för multiplexering av flera kopplingsbaserade sensorer, och installation av sensornätverk genom användning av blåsfiberteknik och mikrodukter föreslås som ett flexibelt och kostnadseffektivt alternativ till traditionell kabelinstallation. Som en lösning på förekommande upplinjeringsproblem för kopplingsbaserade sensorer, föreslås en ny sensorkonfiguration baserad på koppling mellan en fiber och en multikärnefiber/fiberarray och med ett bildsensorsystem för detektering. Med detta koncept kan ett högpresterande, upplinjeringsfritt sensorsystem med ett stort mätområde åstadkommas. Sensorsystemets prestanda har analyserats teoretiskt med kompletta systemsimuleringar, och en experimentell uppställning baserad på standardfiber och en kamera av standardtyp har gjorts. Simuleringar av möjliga felbidrag visar att systemets experimentella prestanda främst begränsas av skillnader mellan den modellerade och den verkliga optiska effektfördelningen. En förbättrad modell för effektfördelningen föreslås och utvärderas experimentellt. Det visas att prestanda är möjlig att förbättra ner mot den teoretiska gräns på 1 μm som erhållits vid systemsimuleringar. Möjligheterna att använda fyllda hålfibrer och polarisationskänslig mätning för detektering av temperaturgränser studeras i syfte att komplettera befintliga fiberoptiska värmedetektorsystem. Förändringen i fiberns dubbelbrytning vid övergångstemperaturen mellan vätske- och fast fas för ämnet i hålen visas och bestäms experimentellt för hålfibrer fyllda med vattenlösningar respektive en metallegering, och resultaten understöds också av simuleringar. En punktsensor för temperaturdetektering baserad på denna princip föreslås. Vidare visas principerna för distribuerad detektering genom registrering av förändringen i dubbelbrytning med polarisations-OTDR (POTDR). Det visas att OTDR-teknik med hög spatial upplösning behövs för övervakning av de studerade fibrerna, och hålfibrer utformade med lägre dubbelbrytning föreslås för framtida studier av tillämpningen.

In the pursuit of economical and rapid fabrication solutions on the micro and nano scale, polymer replication has proven itself to be a formidable technique, which despite zealous development by the research community, remains full of promise. This thesis explores the potential of elastomers in what is a distinctly multidisciplinary field. The focus is on developing innovative fabrication solutions for planar photonic devices and for nanoscale devices in general. Innovations are derived from treatments of master structures, imprintable substrates and device applications. Major contributions made by this work include fully replicated planar integrated optical devices, nanoscale applications for photolithographic standing wave corrugations (SWC), and a biologically templated, optical fiber based, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor. The planar devices take the form of dielectric rib waveguides which for the first time, have been integrated with long-period gratings by replication. The heretofore unemployed SWC is used to demonstrate two innovations. The first is a novel demonstration of elastomeric sidewall photolithographic mask, which exploits the capacity of elastomers to cast undercut structures. The second demonstrates that the corrugations themselves in the absence of elastomers, can be employed as shadow masks in a directional flux to produce vertical stacks of straight lines and circles of nanowires and nanoribbons. The thesis then closes by conceptually combining the preceding demonstrations of waveguides and nanostructures. An optical fiber endface is em ployed for the first time as a substrate for patterning by replication, wherein the pattern is a nanostructure derived from a biological template. This replicated nanostructure is used to impart a SERS capability to the optical fiber, demonstrating an ultra-sensitive, integrated photonic device realized at great economy of both time and money, with very real potential for mass fabrication.

This thesis aimed at the development of a fibre optic strain sensor-based damage detection and evaluation system (FODDAS) based on the composite beams. EFPI strain sensors were used with their integrity being assessed. Their performance, either bonded on the surfaces or embedded was examined extensively. They were shown to be adequate and reliable for strain measurements. Through-the-width damages were simulated by artificially-embedded delaminations, which were located at several through-the-thickness locations, each with two different sizes. The overall design considerations were guided by ply stresses and strains which were estimated by using the modified classical lamination theory (CLT). Considerable efforts were devoted to assessing the through-the-thickness mechanical behaviours of the beams containing optical fibres in three-point bending and short beam shear (SBS). They involved various optical fibre orientations with respect to 00 plies / longitudinal axis and at various through-the-thickness locations, each with different number of optical fibres. The understanding of these behaviours paved the way for the evaluation of the beam-based FODDAS. Smart preconditioned beams were subjected to the quasi -static loads whose magnitudes and locations were required to be well controlled. The viability and effectiveness of the beam-based FODDAS was evaluated in terms of strength and strain obtained by the embedded sensor as well as the surface-bonded strain gauges via the cross comparison of ten cases. For the strength, each beam was incrementally loaded up to the ultimate failure either in three-point bending or SBS. After each increment, the beam was unloaded and inspected for damage. For the given locations of EFPI-SS and artificial delamination as well as the sizes of the latter, it was found that the embedded EFPI-SSs were capable of picking up the stiffness degradation when the 10- mm as well as the 20-mm delamination was located at the 29-30 ply interface in the tensile region of a 32-ply quasi-isotropic carbon/epoxy smart composite beam. It was speculated from single tests results that the propagation of the embedded delamination of the sufficient size was able not only to be detected but also to be monitored by the sensors.

An aim of this work is a research of a deposition process of indium tin oxide by plasma assisted methods. The thesis deals with plasma diagnostics, e.g. Langmuir probe diagnostics and optical emission spectroscopy, as well as describes experiments of film deposition including their diagnostics, e.g. absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and atomic force microscopy.

Abstract This thesis deals with the developing of fibre-optic instruments for monitoring the health of civil engineering and composite structures. A number of sensors have been tested for use with different road structures, concrete bridges, fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) containers and other composite specimens, the interrogation methods being mainly based on measuring optical power and time-of-flight (TOF). The main focus is on the development of a fibre-optic TOF measurement system and its applications, but different sensing needs and fibre-optic measurement systems are also reviewed, with the emphasis on commercial devices. Deformation in a road structure was studied with microbending sensors of gauge-length about 10 cm and a commercial optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) in a quasi-distributed fashion. The responses of the optical fibre sensors during the one-year measurement period were similar in shape to those obtained with commercial strain gauges but the absolute measurement values typically deviated by several tens of per cent. Low dynamic range, crosstalk and poor signal-to-noise ratio proved to be the main problem when measuring several successive sensors with an OTDR. In another road investigation, microbending and speckle sensors were found useful for providing on/off-type information for traffic control applications. FRP composite containers were investigated with the focus on developing a continuous monitoring system for improving yield and quality by evaluating the state of cure during the manufacturing process and for assessing damage, e.g. delaminations, during service life. Standard multi-mode and single mode fibres with a typical length of a few hundreds of metres were embedded inside the walls of containers during the normal manufacturing process, and the measurements were carried out using an optical through-power technique and an OTDR. This largely empirical investigation revealed that the coating material and its thickness have an effect on loading sensitivity and on the applicability of the method for cure monitoring. The measurement data also indicated that the end-of-curing process and the location of external damage can be determined with a distributed optical fibre sensor and an OTDR. Several versions of a pulsed time-of-flight measurement system were developed for interrogating sensor arrays consisting of multiple long gauge-length sensors. The early versions based on commercial electronics were capable of producing relevant measurement data with a reasonable precision, but they suffered especially from poor spatial resolution, low sampling rate and long-term drift. The high precision TOF system developed in this thesis is capable of measuring time delays between a number of wideband reflectors, such as connectors or fibre Bragg gratings (FBG), along a fibre path with a precision of about 280 fs (rms-value) and a spatial resolution of about 3 ns (0.30 m) in a measurement time of 25 milliseconds. By using a fibre loop sensor with a reference fibre, a strain precision below 1 με and a measurement frequency of 4 Hz can be achieved. The system has proved comparable in performance to a commercial FBG interrogation system in monitoring the behaviour of a bridge deck, while the fact that it allows static and dynamic measurements with a number of long gauge-length sensors, also embedded in FRP composite material, makes this TOF device unique relative to other measurement systems.

Dans l'industrie comme dans la Recherche, la température est un paramètre clef pour la maîtrise et la compréhension du comportement des matériaux. Ainsi, dans le Réacteur nucléaire de Recherche Jules Horowitz (RJH), actuellement en construction au CEA Cadarache, un dispositif expérimental est élaboré afin d'étudier le comportement thermomécanique d'une gaine combustible. Celle-ci sera placée dans des conditions qui simulent une situation accidentelle (Accident de Perte de Réfrigérant Primaire, APRP) pendant laquelle elle s'échauffera rapidement. Le suivi de température, entre 700 et 1200 à ±10°C, doit pouvoir se faire par un capteur pyrométrique déporté par fibre optique. L'enjeu est d'optimiser la mesure en comparant différentes techniques de pyrométrie. Pour cela, l'étude est menée sous l'angle des deux principales difficultés techniques inhérentes à la réalisation du capteur. Le premier défi est lié au comportement des fibres optiques dans un environnement mixte où irradiation et haute température sont intimement liées. La fibre va subir des flux neutroniques de l'ordre de 10^12 nrapide/cm²/s et un débit de dose d'environ 1kGy/s. De plus son extrémité est soumise à une température de paroi élevée, de l'ordre de 800°C. Dans ces conditions, lumières parasites, bandes d'absorption et atténuation fluctuante sont autant de contraintes dont les effets sont à éviter ou à minimiser. Une étude prédictive fait le point sur les recommandations théoriques à suivre pour une mesure optimale.La seconde difficulté, qui concerne la mesure de température par pyrométrie, vient des variations spectrales attendues pour l'émissivité de la cible. Le matériau d'étude, choisi pour son utilisation dominante en France, est le Zircaloy-4. Sous l'effet de l'oxydation, l'émissivité spectrale de cet alliage de Zirconium évolue. Ce manuscrit montre qu'entre 700 et 800°C il est expérimentalement possible d'effectuer une mesure pyrométrique en laboratoire, hors irradiation.En croisant ces différents résultats, il apparaît envisageable d'effectuer une mesure de température dans les conditions du RJH à condition de maîtriser les différents paramètres parasites et de privilégier certaines longueurs d'onde. Ce travail s'inscrit dans une voie prometteuse pour l'utilisation à distance de la pyrométrie optique en milieu nucléaire civil sévère. / In both research and industry, temperature is a key parameter for understanding and characterizing the behavior of materials. To study the thermomechanical behavior of a fuel rod, a test device is designed for the Jules Horowitz Material Testing Reactor (currently under construction in the CEA Cadarache). The device will be placed under accidental conditions (Loss Of Coolant Accident, LOCA) causing rapid overheating. The temperature tracking, between 700 and 1200°C, will be measured by a fiber optic sensor. The aim of the project is to optimize temperature measurement by comparing different pyrometry techniques. This study covers the management of the main difficulties inherent to the design of the sensor.The first challenge consists of predicting optical fiber behavior in such complex environments where irradiation and high temperature are combined. The fiber will be exposed to a neutron dose rate about 10^12 nfast/cm²/s and ϒ dose rate of about 1kGy/s. Moreover its extremity is heated to approximately 800°C. It is shown that under these conditions, light interferences, absorption bands and fluctuating attenuation are obstacles to overcome or to mitigate.The second challenge, concerning pyrometric measurement, comes from spectral variations expected for the rod emissivity. The material of study is chosen for its widespread use in France: Zircaloy-4. Under oxidating conditions the spectral emissivity of this Zirconium alloy evolves. This thesis proves that between 700 and 800°C pyrometric measurement is possible from experimental point of view in laboratory without irradiation.In conclusion rod temperature tracking in JHR conditions may be possible providing that interferences are mastered and wavelengths are chosen. This work makes the use of optical pyrometry under civil nuclear extreme conditions more promising.

Sub-surface modification using a frequency doubled Ti: Sapphire femtosecond (fs) laser at 1kHz repetition rate, producing 100-fs pulse duration at 400nm, is studied in order to fabricate optical components within non-photosensitised polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This thesis explores the feasibility of producing three-dimensional optical devices in bulk polymers and polymer optical fibre (POF) using fs laser direct-writing techniques. For effective and optimal structuring, the laser writing parameters and focusing conditions, such as focusing depth, translation speed, and accumulated fluence are investigated by means of photo-modification thresholds; structural changes in dimensions and morphologies; and the magnitude of the refractive index modulation. The highest refractive index change is 3.2x10^(-3) achieved by using a dry (non-immersion) 0.45-NA objective for a single laser scan. Variations in damage threshold with focusing depths are attributed to a combination of material absorption or surface scattering of light due to contamination or surface imperfections, as well as oxygen diffusion and spherical aberration. Distortion of the laser-induced feature size and shape due to spherical aberrations is controlled and compensated by adjusting the laser power near the damage threshold. Permanent refractive index structures with cross-sectional dimensions of 2μm by 0.9μm and 3μm by 1.4μm are demonstrated at depths of 300μm and 500μm below the surface, resulting in the axial/ lateral ratio of 2.2 and 2.1, respectively. A novel phenomenon relevant to effects of translation speed on the fs laser modification is observed for the first time. As translation speeds reduce from 1.2 to 0.6mm/s, the optical damage threshold power decreases by 6μW, whilst other writing conditions remain constant. However, the damage threshold increases by 74μW with decreasing speeds from 0.6 to 0.35mm/s. This significant increase in threshold power enables inscription of refractive index gratings <5μm below the surface, because irradiation on the surface or near the surface initiates ablation rather than refractive index changes, and this forms a limit for writing useful structures. Compensating for this limit by using appropriate writing parameters highlights the potential of fabricating three-dimensional integrated optical circuits in thin (100μm) polymer substrates. Finally, highly localised fabrication of long period gratings into step-index single mode polymer fibres is demonstrated by removing distortion effects due to the curved surface. The distortion is compensated by sandwiching the fibre with two flat PMMA sheets, between which index-matching oil (n=1.5) is injected. This arrangement enables precise laser micro-structuring with flat interfaces and continuous inner material. The first demonstration of a 250-μm-period fibre grating, resulting in attenuation bands in the visible spectral region at 613, 633, 728, 816, 853, 877 and 900nm, is presented.