A Fiber-Optic Microsensor and Probe to Measure the Index of Refraction in the Ocean

这项SBIR研究的第二阶段，将继续开发两种类型的折射微传感器，产生至少一个校准的原型微传感器探头。它还将提高光谱仪探测器的精度和动态范围，主要来自现成的部件。将开发一条光纤传输链路，以允许远程使用微型传感器；这一开发将包括优化收卷和收卷技术，并将传输链路引起的信号失真降至最低。最后，关于折射率到比体积的算法的工作将继续进行，其中包括温度和压力的高阶项。目标是在95%的置信度水平下，比体积良好到1x10-5cm3/g的状态方程。这项研究改进的折射微传感器和传输链路将在化工过程控制行业和高效液相色谱仪(高效液相色谱仪)中得到最直接的商业应用。它也将在海洋学中得到期待已久的应用，但需要更长的开发努力。精确测量海洋中的海水密度对许多调查至关重要。传统的密度计算方法依赖于对海水温度、压力和电导率的独立测量。电子传感器响应率的差异和其他缺陷已成为做出这些决定的限制因素。然而，光在海水(和其他液体)中的折射率等光学性质随着密度的变化而变化。光学技术的最新进展使测量这些变化和传输数据变得比目前使用电动或机电传感器更有效。

Phase II of this SBIR research, will continue the development of two types of refraction micro-sensors, resulting in at least one calibrated prototype microsensor probe. It will also improve the accuracy and dynamic range of the spectrograph detector, largely from off-the-shelf components. An optical fiber transmission link will be developed to allow remote use of the microsensor; this development will include optimizing the reeling and unreeling techniques and minimizing the transmission link induced signal distortion. Finally, the work on the index of refraction to specific volume algorithm will continue with higher order terms in temperature and pressure included. The goal is an equation of state for the specific volume good to 1x10-5 cm 3/g at the 95% confidence level. The refraction microsensor and transmission link improvements from this research would have its most immediate commercial application in the chemical process control industry and HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). It would also have a long awaited application in oceanography, but with a longer development effort. The precise measure of seawater density in the oceans is critical to many investigations. Traditional methods for deriving density rely on independent measurements of seawater temperature, pressure, and conductivity. Differences in electronic sensor response rates and other drawbacks have become a limiting factor in making these determinations. However, the optical properties such as the index of refraction of light in seawater (and other liquids) change as a function of density. Recent advances in optical technology make it now possible to measure these changes and transmit data more effective than is presently possible using electric or electromechanical sensors.