Fiber optic sensing measures changes in the naturally occurring “backscattering” of light occurring in an optical fiber (or designed in methods of controlled reflection such as Fiber Bragg Gratings). Measurable change is observed when the fiber encounters vibration, strain or. A fiber-optic sensor is a sensor that uses optical fiber either as the sensing element ("intrinsic sensors"), or as a means of relaying signals from a remote sensor to the electronics that process the signals ("extrinsic sensors"). Fibers have many uses in remote sensing. Radiation absorption creates electronic excited states that are trapped by localized defects for extended periods of time. Utilizing the fiber as a sensor enables continuous measurement along its full length, sensing every centimeter of the fiber — this is referred to as. A fiber optic sensor measures a physical quantity by modulating the intensity, spectrum, phase, or polarization of light traveling through the optical fiber system.
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