Abstract

Fiber-optic sensor devices and systems have been the subject of research and development efforts at various laboratories around the world for more than a decade. They are beginning to move out of the laboratory and be accepted as viable alternatives and additions to the more conventional sensors. These fiber sensors can be based on either the familiar multimode and monomode optical fibers or the growing range of special optical fibers. The fiber may purely transfer Information to and from a conventional sensor, or it may form both the transmission medium and sensor. This tutorial introduces the technology and its advantages, describes the basic operating principles, and discusses some recent work and more advanced concepts.

© 1987 Optical Society of America