Modeling and performance evaluation of in-line Fabry-Perot photothermal gas sensors with hollow-core optical fibers

Abstract

We study photothermal phase modulation in gas-filled hollow-core optical fibers with differential structural dimensions and attempt to develop highly sensitive practical gas sensors with an in-line Fabry-Perot interferometer for detection of the phase modulation. Analytical formulations based on a hollow-capillary model are developed to estimate the amplitude of photothermal phase modulation at low modulation frequencies as well as the -3 dB roll-off frequency, which provide a guide for the selection of hollow-core fibers and the pump modulation frequencies to maximize photothermal phase modulation. Numerical simulation with the capillary model and experiments with two types of hollow-core fibers support the analytical formulations. Further experiments with an Fabry-Perot interferometer made of 5.5-cm-long anti-resonant hollow-core fiber demonstrated ultra-sensitive gas detection with a noise-equivalent-absorption coefficient of 2.3 x 10(-9) cm(-1), unprecedented dynamic range of 4.3 x 10(6) and <2.5% instability over a period of 24 hours.