Curved tapered optical fibre surface pressure sensor

An optical fibre surface pressure sensor capable of measuring the changes in the meniscus forming properties of a liquid is presented. The sensor consists of a tapered single mode silica fibre, mounted with a small curvature and positioned with the tapered region of the fibre immersed in the water. The low angle curve formed by the fibre acts to enhance the movement of the meniscus along the fibre by creating a capillary channel between the fibre and the surface of the water. As the surface pressure of the water changed a concomitant change in the intensity of features within the transmission spectrum of the tapered fibre was observed. The performance of the fibre optic sensor compares well with that of the conventional Wilhelmy plate surface pressure sensor.