Wavelength Sensing Based on Whispering Gallery Mode Mapping
Fibers 2022
Roberts Berkis, Pauls kristaps Reinis, Lase Milgrave, Kristians Draguns, Toms Salgals, Inga Brice, Jānis Alnis, Aigars Atvars

We demonstrate a wavelength sensor based on whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators. For the first time, multiple polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres were simultaneously attached to a tapered fiber. WGM resonances from these commercially available PMMA microspheres were observed with a NIR camera, monitoring the scattered light. Circulating light in the WGMs was scattered on the outer layer of the microspheres and appeared as bright spots due to scattering defects. For each laser wavelength fed into the tapered fiber, the light interfered differently for the various sizes of PMMA microspheres. We measured scattered light intensity for different wavelengths and created a barcode for each microsphere. Combining these barcodes into a mode map allowed for unknown wavelength detection. A tunable laser around 1550 nm was used for measurements. As a result, a laser wavelength sensor system with a detection limit of 5 pm was demonstrated. The principles of increasing selectivity, as well as creating a compact device, were discussed.


Keywords
whispering gallery modes (WGM); polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres; tapered optical fiber; laser wavelength sensor; tunable NIR laser; NIR camera image processing; mode map
DOI
10.3390/fib10100090
Hyperlink
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6439/10/10/90

Berkis, R., Reinis, P., Milgrave, L., Draguns, K., Salgals, T., Brice, I., Alnis, J., Atvars, A. Wavelength Sensing Based on Whispering Gallery Mode Mapping. Fibers, 2022, Vol. 10, No. 10, Article number 90. ISSN 2079-6439. Pieejams: doi:10.3390/fib10100090

Publication language
English (en)
The Scientific Library of the Riga Technical University.
E-mail: uzzinas@rtu.lv; Phone: +371 28399196