Eli Lilly and Company

Nicolas G Loebel

David Lipson

Benjamin L Liu

A method of preparing an optical fiber for user in an interferometric system includes introducing a portion of a single-mode, polarization preserving fiber having an asymmetric cladding into a medium capable of etching away the cladding and withdrawing the portion from the medium after sensing an optical intraction between light introduced into the optical fiber and the medium.

Method of preparing an optical fiber for use in an interferometer system

An optical fiber interferometric system includes a pair of single-mode, polarization-preserving fibers having distal and proximal ends. The cladding of a selected portion of one of the fibers having been removed to allow an evanescent portion of a light wave traveling within the fiber to interact with any medium surrounding the selected portion of the fiber. A light source for producing a light of known character is coupled to the proximal ends of the pair of optical fibers for introducing a source signal to the pair of fibers. A reflector at the distal ends of the optical fibers reflects the light from the distal ends back toward the light source. The return signals are used to construct an interferogram which is observed to detect any modulation in the phase of the light signals. The modulation is examined ratiometrically to derive a change in the index of refraction of the medium surrounding the selected portion substantially free of any environmentally induced phase noise.

Fiberoptic interferometric sensor

An elongated optical fiber apparatus for transmitting a light signal toward a first end of the apparatus situated within a fluid to be analyzed, and for transmitting a returning light signal that is indicative of a specified characteristic of the fluid toward a second end of the apparatus that is situated outside the fluid. The optical fiber apparatus includes a light conductive cable capable of transmitting light with a hole formed in its first end. Disposed substantially entirely within this hole is a reactive element that reacts with the fluid to alter a property of the light that is indicative of a specified characteristic of the fluid.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Nicolas G Loebel