A study of the optical properties of photopolymer Fabry-Perot microcavities by a dual-wavelength fibre optic architecture

• Published in: Measurement science & technology 2002-07, Vol.13 (7), p.1094-1099, Article 317
• Main Authors: Heredero, Raquel L, Martin, Susana, Caleya, Ramón Fernández de, Ribeiro, Antonio B Lobo, Araújo, Francisco M, Ferreira, Luís A, Santos, José Luís, Guerrero, Héctor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Fiber-optic instruments; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Interferometers; Optical instruments, equipment and techniques; Physics
• ISSN: 0957-0233; 1361-6501
• DOI: 10.1088/0957-0233/13/7/317

Presents a novel method, based on a low-finesse Fabry - Perot interferometer, to study the optical properties of photopolymer materials. The photopolymer used in this work consists of a polymer matrix (PVA) acting as a binder, 2 acrylamide monomers (bisacrylamide and acrylamide), an electron donor (triethanolamine) and a dye sensitizer (Rose Bengal). The photopolymer is deposited on the tip of optical fibres by dip coating to fabricate microcavities. The signal processing technique utilized to study the cavities is based on the generation of 2 quadrature phase shifted interferometric signals using 2 Bragg fibre gratings. This technique enables the determination of the thermo-optical coefficient and the linear coefficient of thermal expansion of the photopolymer. The effectiveness of the processing technique is also exploited in the study of the dependence of temperature sensitivity on the cavity thickness. (Original abstract - amended)