All-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer for tunable two quasi-continuous points’ temperature sensing in seawater

Based on the beam propagation theory, transmission spectrum is designed to present two sets of clear and independent interferences. Following this design, MZI is fabricated and two points’ temperature sensing in seawater are demonstrated with sensitivities 42.69pm/°C and 39.17pm/°C, respectively.

By further optimization, sensitivity of 80.91pm/°C can be obtained, which is 3-10 times higher than fiber Bragg gratings and microfiber resonator, and higher than almost all similar MZI based temperature sensors. In addition, factors affecting sensitivities are also discussed and verified experimentally. The two points’ temperature sensing demonstrated here show advantages of simple and compact construction, robust structure, easy fabrication, high sensitivity, immunity to salinity and tunable distance of 1-20 centimeters between two points, which may provide references for macroscopic oceanic research and other sensing applications based on MZIs.