All-fiber polarimetric electric field sensing using liquid crystal infiltrated photonic crystal fibers

The operation of an all-fiber polarimetric electric field sensor based on nematic liquid crystal infiltrated photonic crystal fiber is demonstrated. A section less than 1 mm long of a selectively infiltrated polarization maintaining photonic crystal fiber is used as the probe. The transmission properties are studied for different lengths of the infiltrated section of the fiber subjected to an electric field. It is shown that the phase birefringence of the fiber can be controlled by adjusting the length of the infiltrated section subjected to an electric field, which allows for the sensor to have a linear transmittance response with the applied electric field intensity. The sensor is operated in the telecommunication window at 1550 nm and can be used for the fabrication of all-fiber electric field sensors for high and low electric field environments with an appropriate choice of liquid crystal material for infiltration and with optimization of the infiltration length.