SBIR Phase I: Photonic Crystal-Based Optical Fiber Temperature Sensors for Process Control

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目旨在开发新型的基于光子晶体的光纤传感器，用于实时过程控制和土木结构监控应用中的快速温度测量。一种获得专利的分子级静电自组装(ESA)处理方法将被用来在光纤远端形成具有周期性交错高和低折射率的多层介质堆栈，以实现一维光子晶体传感器结构。这种尺寸共振光学结构可以在几种配置中使用，以通过检测热致共振模式频移来测量温度变化。这种物理上较小的、机械上坚固耐用的传感器的温度测量范围和分辨率都可以通过改变包装材料的组成属性来控制。类似设备的典型动态范围为80C，分辨率为0.2C，响应时间为微秒，比传统的接触式热探头快一个数量级。在第一阶段，一所主要的研究型大学将通过薄膜材料分析和光学设备测试提供协助。在石油和天然气工业的商业化和现场部署的仪器系统中，迫切需要这种快速响应时间的温度传感器。快速响应时间温度传感器在闭环反馈控制系统中有特定的应用。类似的基于光子晶体的传感器可以应用于应变、压力以及化学和生物目标的测量。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to develop novel photonic crystal-based optical fiber sensors for the rapid measurement of temperature for real-time process control and civil structure monitoring applications. A patented molecular-level electrostatic self-assembly (ESA) processing method will be used to form multi-layered dielectric stacks with periodically interleaved high and low refractive indices on the distal ends of optical fibers to achieve one-dimensional photonic crystal sensor structures. Such dimensionally-resonant optical structures can be used in several configurations to measure temperature change by detecting thermally-induced resonance mode frequency shifts. Both the temperature measurement range and resolution of such physically small and mechanically robust sensors can be controlled by varying packaging material constitutive properties. Similar devices suggests a typical dynamic range of 80C, resolution of 0.2C and response time of microseconds, orders of magnitude faster than conventional contact-based thermal probes. During Phase I a major research university would assist through thin film materials analysis and optical device testing. There is an immediate need for such fast response time temperature sensors in a commercialized and field-deployed instrumentation system for the oil and gas industry. Fast response time temperature sensors have specific applications in closed-loop feedback control systems. Similar photonic crystal-based sensors may be applied to measurements of strain, pressure and chemical and biological targets.