Abstract

A compact force fiber sensor capable of measuring forces at the piconewton level is reported. It consists of a miniature Fabry–Perot cavity fabricated at the tip a single-mode fiber, in which the external reflector is a compliant photonic-crystal diaphragm that deflects when subjected to a force. In the laboratory environment, this sensor was able to detect a force of only $\sim 4\mathrm{pN}$ generated by the radiation pressure of a laser beam. Its measured minimum detectable force (MDF) at 3 kHz was as weak as $1.3\mathrm{pN}/\surd \mathrm{Hz}$. In a quiet environment, the measured noise was $\sim 16$ times lower, and the MDF predicted to be $\sim 76\mathrm{fN}/\surd \mathrm{Hz}$.

© 2014 Optical Society of America

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