A sensing system utilizing a standard optical fiber as a distributed sensor for the detection and localization of mechanical vibrations is presented. Vibrations can be caused by various external factors, like moving people, cars, trains, and other objects producing mechanical vibrations that are sensed by a fiber. In our laboratory we have designed a sensing system based on the Φ-OTDR (phase sensitive Optical Time Domain Reflectometry) using an extremely narrow laser and EDFAs.

This article proposes an unequivocal method of labeling and numbering the cladding modes propagating in single-mode opticalwaveguides with tilted periodic structures. The unambiguous determination of individual propagating modes in this type of optical fiber is crucial for their use in sensory systems. The selection of the appropriate spectral range and mode determines the sensitivity and measuring range of tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) sensors. The measurement methods proposed by individual research teams using TFBGs as transducers are usually based on the selection of specific modes. Unification of the labeling of modes and their numbering enables comparison of the basic metrological parameters of individual measurement methods and reproduction and verification of the proposed sensors and methods in the laboratories of other scientific and research centers.

The article shows the possibility of using TFBG gratings to measure the radius of curvature of fiber bending in conditions of variable polarization of the introduced light. Most of the modern, stable light sources generate light with a high degree of polarization. Due to the spatial asymmetry, the direction of the light polarization plane affects the spectral parameters of individual modes. For this reason, in the measurement systems using TFBGs presented so far it becomes necessary to determine and control the state of light polarization directly in front of the periodic structure. The article presents the determined spectral parameters of the cladding modes which allow bending measurements regardless of the direction of polarization of the introduced light. Thanks to this, the measuring system can be constructed without providing control of the introduced light polarization angle, which makes its construction simpler. When using TFBGs with an angle of 2°, the accuracy of determining the bending radius in the range from 15 mm to 30 mm when changing the angle of the plane of polarization in the full range is 0.318 mm in the case of changes in the transmission coefficient. For changes in the wavelength of the selected cladding mode, the accuracy is 0.3203 mm, with the input light polarization being changed in the range from 0° (P type) to 90° (S type).

Thermo-optic properties enhancement of the bi-stable temperature threshold sensors based on a partially filled photonic crystal fiber was reported. Previously tested transducers filled with a selected group of pure n-alkanes had in most cases differences between switching ON and OFF states. Therefore, the modification of filling material by using additional crystallization centers in the form of gold nanoparticles was applied to minimize this undesirable effect. The evaluation of the thermodynamic properties of pentadecane and its mixtures with 14 nm spherical Au nanoparticles based on the differential scanning calorimetry measurements was presented. Optical properties analysis of sensors prepared with these mixtures has shown that they are bounded with refractive index changes of the filling material. Particular sensor switches ON before melting process begins and switches OFF before crystallization starts. Admixing next group of n-alkanes with these nanoparticles allows to design six sensors transducers which change ON and OFF states at the same temperature. Thus, the transducers with a wider temperature range for fiber-optic multi-threshold temperature sensor tests will be used.