Fiber-optic temperature sensors with chalcogenide glass and crystalline sensing elements.

Abstract

Fiber-optic temperature sensors (FOTSs) are competitive in cases where it is necessary to provide stable operation in harsh operating conditions—strong electromagnetic fields, elevated background radiation, and explosive environment— and at large distances between sensing element and receiving device. In addition to high reliability and stability when measurements are performed in extreme conditions, such sensors have good metrological characteristics. For FOTSs the main functional node is a temperature-sensitive element (TSE), which defines the main operational and metrological characteristics of these devices. Therefore, the search for new promising materials for innovative TSEs is relevant. From this point of view, chalcogenide amorphous materials of the AsxSe100-x system deserve special attention. They are characterized by a unique combination of high inertia under the influence of intensive external factors and the possibility of significant changes of their optical parameters with changing of their chemical composition within the range of glass formation. In this scientific work, a comparative analysis of opportunities for traditional GaAs crystals and AsxSe100-x chalcogenide glasses for TSEs of modern FOTSs is carried out.