Design and analysis of surface-plasmon-resonance-based dual-cladding micro-structured fiber temperature and refractive index sensor

Combining the surface plasmon resonance(SPR) effect and the characteristics of dual-cladding micro-structured fiber(DC-MF), this study presents the design and analysis of a temperature and refractive index sensor. The performance of the sensor is analyzed by using the full-vector finite element method, and the structure parameters of the DC-MF and the thickness of the plasmonic material (ITO film), is optimized to achieve high sensitivity measurements of temperature and refractive index. Theoretical analysis results indicate that its maximal temperature and refractive index sensitivity can reach to 25.4 nm/degrees C and 46559.8 nm/RIU in -40 degrees C to -40 degrees C. Its average temperature and refractive index sensitivity is 22.53 nm/degrees C and 38292.3 nm/RIU in the temperature range from -40 degrees C to 0 degrees C, and the value is 7.03 nm/degrees C and 12591.7 nm/RIU in the temperature range from 0 degrees C to 40 degrees C. Besides, its operating wavelength shifts toward a long wavelength region (about 1.05 mu m-2.25 mu m) as the refractive index of analyte increases from 1.424 to 1.471.