Analysis of a fiber ring resonator as a multi-path light-wave circuit in white-light fiber-optic interferometric sensors

According to the phase shift response of a ring resonator, the role of a fiber-optic ring resonator as a multi-path light-wave circuit in white-light fiber-optic interferometric sensors is analyzed. Formulas related to the maximum intensity of the interference fringes and the system parameters are derived by exact mathematic deduction. The main factors affecting the multiplexing capability of the sensor array are discussed. The analysis method not only gives an explicit explanation for the enhancement of multiplexing capability but also can be applied to other structural white-light sensor systems, in which the ring resonator is used as a multi-path light-wave circuit.