Fiber-optic sensors field applications

The intention of the author of this chapter was to provide an introductory knowledge base on the application of fiber optics in chemical and biosensors. The field of fiber-optic sensors is progressing very rapidly, with significant new research being continuously reported for various sensors applications. 

Fiber-optic sensors are less expensive, more rugged, and smaller than electrodes in the future we may see the former replacing the latter in various areas of analytical and clinical chemistry. Fields of application include environmental monitoring, process control, remote spectroscopy in high-risk areas with radioactive, explosive, biological, or other hazards, titrimetry, and in-vivo bioanalysis. 

Udd E, Schulz W L and Seim J M, Measurement of multidimensional strain fields using fiber grating sensors for structural monitoring . In Proc. SPIE - Fiber Optic Sensor Technology and Applications, 1999, 3860, 24-34. 

Applications exploiting porous silica to encapsulate sensor molecules, enzymes and many other compounds are developing rapidly. Nowadays, sol-gel technology is being used in various fields of modem technology, as for example the basis for optodes, integrated systems, fiber optics, lasers, and new materials. 

Of concern in this application of the instrument was the effect of electromagnetic fields generated by the EAF on electrical signals transmitted between the processing unit in the sensor room and optics modules. To address this concern, fiber optic links are used to transmit data between these two locations. 

A number of fiber optic-based systems have been described for CE-LIF systems. " These systems boast a small footprint, and the terminal of the fiber optic can be placed exceedingly close to the detection window, thus enabling high collection efficiency. Hence, fiber optics are an excellent choice for systems where the overall footprint must be kept to a minimum, such as field-deployable sensors or lab-on-a-chip applications. 

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