Fiber optic temperature sensing with enhanced sensitivity based on spectral interferometry

•Fiber optic temperature sensing with enhanced sensitivity based on spectral interferometry is proposed and demonstrated.•A temperature sensor employs a tandem configuration of a birefringent quartz crystal and highly birefringent fiber.•A modified channeled spectrum is generated, which shifts with the temperature change and the wavelength interrogation is used.•The temperature sensing is with enhanced sensitivity in comparison to that for a standard measurement.

Temperature sensing with enhanced sensitivity based on the spectral interference of polarization modes in a highly birefringent (HB) fiber is proposed and demonstrated. A temperature sensor employs a tandem configuration of a birefringent quartz crystal and HB fiber placed between an analyzer and a polarizer. In the setup a modified channeled spectrum is generated, which shifts with the temperature change of the sensing part of the HB fiber. We analyze the measurement method theoretically and show that the sensitivity of the temperature sensing based on the wavelength interrogation is enhanced in comparison to a standard method with a fiber interferometer. We also demonstrate the enhancement of the temperature sensitivity for three HB fibers under test. Experimental results show that the temperature sensing can reach a sensitivity of −0.30 nm/K, which is enhanced in comparison to −0.10 nm/K reached for a standard measurement.