Workshop - Fiber Optic Sensors for Strain, Temperature, and Refractive Index Sensing

Optical fiber sensors have become a versatile platform for measuring physical and chemical quantities, offering immunity to electromagnetic interference, small size, biocompatibility, and the capability for remote and distributed measurement. This talk will introduce the core operating principles behind fiber optic sensors, and focus on single-mode-multimode-single-mode fiber sensors and tapered fiber sensors. We will examine how fiber optic sensors respond to strain, temperature, and the refractive index of the surrounding medium, and discuss the challenges of cross-sensitivity and strategies for resolving it. Representative applications will be highlighted, from structural health monitoring and industrial process control to biomedical and chemical sensing.