Optical fiber sensor based on the excitation of surface plasmon
First Claim
1. An optical fiber sensor in an external medium based on optical excitation of surface plasmon, comprising:
- a sensor head comprising a transparent body with a first flat surface, said first flat surface having an adjacent thin metal layer on which the optical excitation of surface plasmon is produced, a mirrored cylindrical surface, said cylindrical surface being positioned perpendicular to said first flat surface and said cylindrical surface having an axis, a second flat surface forming an angle Φ
with said first flat surface, said angle being determined by the refractive indexes of said transparent body and of the external medium, and a third flat surface positioned parallel to said first flat surface;
a first optical fiber connected to means for emitting light to said transparent body; and
a second optical fiber connected to means for detecting light reflected from said transparent body;
said first and second optical fibers being positioned adjacent said second flat surface and in said axis, whereby variations of the optical properties of the sensor may be determined by measuring changes in energy per unit time in the light detected by the light detecting means.
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Abstract
Optical fiber sensor in an external medium based on the excitation of surface plasmon comprised of a sensor head formed by a transparent body having a first flat surface provided with a thin metal layer on which the optical excitation of the surface plasmon is produced. A mirrored surface positioned perpendicular to the first flat surface and a second flat surface forming an angle Φ determined by the refractive indexes of the transparent body and of the external medium. The sensor emitting light to the transparent body and detecting light from the transparent body, whereby variations of the optical properties of the sensor are determined.
34 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An optical fiber sensor in an external medium based on optical excitation of surface plasmon, comprising:
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a sensor head comprising a transparent body with a first flat surface, said first flat surface having an adjacent thin metal layer on which the optical excitation of surface plasmon is produced, a mirrored cylindrical surface, said cylindrical surface being positioned perpendicular to said first flat surface and said cylindrical surface having an axis, a second flat surface forming an angle Φ
with said first flat surface, said angle being determined by the refractive indexes of said transparent body and of the external medium, and a third flat surface positioned parallel to said first flat surface;a first optical fiber connected to means for emitting light to said transparent body; and a second optical fiber connected to means for detecting light reflected from said transparent body; said first and second optical fibers being positioned adjacent said second flat surface and in said axis, whereby variations of the optical properties of the sensor may be determined by measuring changes in energy per unit time in the light detected by the light detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification