Thomson-Csf

Marie-Noel Charasse

Marc Turpin

Jean-Pierre Le Pesant

Jean-Michel Vignolle

The disclosed optical fiber sensor uses the effect of variation in the birefringence in a birefringent optical fiber as a function of the stresses and of the temperature. It has a linearly polarized, wide-spectrum source coupled to a polarizing-preserving single-mode optical fiber, along one of its neutral axes, devices capable of inducing coupling points being distributed along this fiber. A polarizer at 45.degree. with respect to the neutral axes of the fiber is placed at output of this sensor fiber. The output radiation is analyzed by spectroscopy, for example in a scanning Michelson interferometer associated with a detector. The detection by the interferometer enables the identification of the devices that are subjected to stresses. The same type of device may be used for the simultaneous detection of the stresses and/or the temperatures. The disclosed device can be applied notably to the monitoring and supervision of any installation in which strains have to be detected.

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Orsay, France

Marie-Noel Charasse