Multi-core optical fibers with adapted functionalities for imaging and sensing applications

Applying the highly versatile and flexible MCVD technology at Leibniz-IPHT two new designs for optical sensing fibers were realized by co-doping of fused silica. For FBG sensing a Ge/B co-doped fiber with a mode field diameter adapted to standard single mode telecom fibers was prepared. The influence of boron on the attenuation at the inscription wavelength 1550 nm is visible. For distributed Brillouin sensing applications a preform with lateral separated germanium and aluminum doped regions and nearly step-index characteristic was fabricated by the MCVD in combination with the solution doping technique. Theoretical analysis of the acoustic properties and Brillouin spectrum have been shown, that this design is a potential candidate for strain and temperature discrimination. Because of the high temperatures during the preparation processes the radial refractive index and dopant concentration profiles of both fiber designs are influenced by diffusion.