Fiber Optic Sensors: An Introduction for Engineers and Scientists

Citation

Fairuz Omar, A. (2013), "Fiber Optic Sensors: An Introduction for Engineers and Scientists", Sensor Review, Vol. 33 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2013.08733baa.010

Fiber Optic Sensors: An Introduction for Engineers and Scientists

Article Type: Book reviews From: Sensor Review, Volume 33, Issue 2

Edited by Udd, Eric, and William B. Spillman Jr2nd ed.Wiley2011512 pp.$US145ISBN: 978-0-470-12684-4Web Link: www.wiley.com/wileycda/wileytitle/productcd-0470126841.html

Fiber Optic Sensors: An Introduction for Engineers and Scientists authored by internationally renowned academic and industrial experts, elaborates the fundamentally essential concepts and applications of fiber optic sensors from the introduction of optical devices to the development of integrated optical fiber system as sensors. This book combines the discussion of conventional and current applications of fiber optic sensors, thus making it suitable to be used as a standard reference for undergraduate students as well as a critical reference for postgraduate researchers, scientists and industrial engineers.

The first chapter of the book gives an interesting overview on the fiber optic sensors technology by illustrating the classification of various extrinsic and intrinsic (with a highlight on interferometric sensors) types of fiber optic sensors. Within this chapter, the readers will have a clear expectation of the types of sensors that will be discussed within the entire book. Chapters 2-4 discuss the primary devices used in the construction of fiber optic sensors, namely optical fibers, light sources and optical detectors. The three chapters describe the different types of these optical components and their respective physical phenomena and contribution in sensing. Chapter 5 of the book discusses several important examples of optical modulators for fiber optic sensors. This includes bulk, integrated and all-fiber optical modulators with examples of their applications in amplitude (intensity), phase and frequency modulation.

Chapters 6-11 elaborate on several conventional applications of fiber optic sensors that have been reported in the past 30 years. The focus of the chapters is on the application of fiber optic as interferometric sensors. These chapters serve as the strength of the book, since here the readers are capable of having a specific introduction of the principles and applications of the most fundamental optical fiber interferometric sensors such as Mach-Zehnder, Michelson, Fabry-Perot and Sagnac along with several examples of their applications in the measurement of temperature, strain, pressure, rotation, acceleration, rotation, electrical and magnetic fields, acoustic and current.

Chapter 12 discusses the specific application of fiber optic magnetic sensors such as magnetostriction-based interferometric sensors, Faraday effect sensors, and Lorentz force sensors. Chapter 13 provides an overview on the industrial applications of fiber optic sensors such as for the measurement of temperature, pressure, fluid-level, flow, position, vibration, current–voltage as well as for chemical analysis. Chapter 14 further elaborates the industrial application of fiber optic to smart structures, particularly for the monitoring and evaluation of (non-destructive techniques) the manufacturing process and parameters such as strain, temperature and pressure. Chapter 15 comprehensively describes fiber grating sensors from its fabrication until its multiple applications in the measurement of strain, temperature, pressure and vibration. The examples of industrial application of fiber optic sensors included within Chapters 13-15 of the book are mainly for structure health monitoring, aerospace, civil structure and environmental monitoring. The last chapter wrapped up the book through the fascinating introduction of fiber optic as biosensors for medical applications such as in surgery, endoscopy, imaging, biochemical sensing, breathing sensors and its applications for a “smart bed” to monitor the respiration, heart rate and movement of a patient. Though some of the topics discussed in the chapter are rather too brief, this chapter did successfully provide an important overview on the current application of fiber optic biosensors.

In summary, this book comprises good introductory materials for both academic and industrial applications of fiber optics sensors. The arrangement of the book, despite having it authored by several experts, is very smooth and easy to understand. This book will be a great academic reference for postgraduate students specializing in optical sensors since it provides the readers with a wide range application of fiber optic sensors. Hence, Fiber Optic Sensors: An Introduction for Engineers and Scientists serves as a good introductory textbook and research idea initiator for the students.

Ahmad Fairuz OmarSchool of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia