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Development of a High Sensitive Refractive Index Sensor Based on Evanescent Wave Absorbance effect in Reflective Mode for Ocean Observation

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Abstract

This paper demonstrates the Refractive Index (RI) sensing characteristics of the proposed evanescent wave absorbance (EWA) sensor in reflective mode. The end reflective-EWA (ER-EWA) sensor is fabricated using Tollens’ reagent for depositing silver (Ag) layer throughout the length of sensing region and to fabricate in-line reflective mirror at the end of sensing probe. The fabricated ER-EWA sensor measures changes in RI of seawater sample with a sensitivity of 48.036 arbitrary unit per RI unit (a.u./RIU) in the range of 1.332 RIU to 1.344 RIU. The proposed sensor is further analyzed for its sensitivity towards changes in salinity at constant turbidity and variation in turbidity at constant salinity values. By validating the functionality of the proposed ER-EWA sensor against commercial sensors, accuracies for salinity and turbidity measurements are obtained as 98.1791% and 93.5737%, respectively. This proves the potential of the proposed ER-EWA sensor in real time monitoring of ocean parameters such as salinity and turbidity.

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Abbreviations

a.u.:

Arbitrary unit

BBLS:

Broad-band light source

CTD:

Conductivity-temperature-depth

ER-EWA:

End reflective-evanescent wave absorbance

EWA:

Evanescent wave absorbance

FBG:

Fiber Bragg grating

FNU:

Formazin Nephelometric unit

HF:

HydroFluoric acid

PSU:

Practical salinity unit

RI:

Refractive Index

RIU:

Refractive Index unit

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

SLM:

Skip length model

SMF:

Single mode fiber

SPR:

Surface plasmon resonance

TR:

Tollens’ reagent

αm :

Bulk absorption coefficient of medium

Ag:

Silver

AgNO3 :

Silver nitrate

C6H12O6 :

Glucose

C:

Concentration of aquatic medium

dc :

Core diameter

dBm:

Decibel per milliwatt

Δ:

Displacement

Γ:

Evanescent wave absorption coefficient

KOH:

Potassium Hydroxide

λi :

Wavelength of incident light

La :

Absorption length

LA :

Overall absorption length

Li :

Interaction length

Ls :

Skip length

M:

Molarity

mS:

MilliSiemens

NaOH:

Sodium hydroxide

nc :

Refractive index of fiber core

nm :

Refractive index of aquatic medium

Nm:

Nanometer

P(0):

Power transmitted through optical fiber in the absence of medium under analysis

rc :

Fraction of total guided power confined within sensing region

SnCl2 :

Stannous chloride

Μm:

Micrometer

θi :

Angle of incidence at the interface of fiber core and medium under analysis

θl :

Launching angle of optical signal inside fiber core

θr :

Angle of reflection from the interface of fiber core and medium under analysis

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Nano Research Center of SRM Institute of Science and Technology for helping in fabricating the proposed sensor. The authors also thank the authorities of the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Pallikaranai, Chennai for permitting to utilize commercial salinity and turbidity sensors to validate the proposed fiber optic sensor.

Funding

This work was supported by the Naval research Board, Defense Research and Development Organization, India [Grant number: NRB/4003/PG/405 and NRB-405/OEP/17–18]; and Selective Excellence Initiative, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, India [Grant number: SRMU/R/AR(A)/2015/126/1866].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, India

    C. R. Uma Kumari, R. Kumar & Dhanalakshmi Samiappan

  2. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, India

    Tata Sudhakar

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  1. C. R. Uma Kumari
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  2. R. Kumar
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  3. Dhanalakshmi Samiappan
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  4. Tata Sudhakar
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Correspondence to R. Kumar.

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Uma Kumari, C.R., Kumar, R., Samiappan, D. et al. Development of a High Sensitive Refractive Index Sensor Based on Evanescent Wave Absorbance effect in Reflective Mode for Ocean Observation. Wireless Pers Commun 121, 411–427 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-021-08643-5

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