High sensitivity curvature sensor based on the long period fiber grating inscribed in the two-mode fiber

The optical fiber curvature sensor is an important device that is widely used in the field of medical instruments. In this paper, we proposed a high sensitivity curvature sensor based on a long period fiber grating (LPFG), which is inscribed in the two-mode fiber (TMF) by C O 2 laser pulses. Unlike the traditional LPFG in the single-mode fiber, TMF-LPFG couples the high-order mode L P 11 in the core with the modes in the cladding. From the experiment results, the wavelength shifts to the short-wave direction as the sensor bends. This sensor offers a high curvature sensitivity of − 23.67 n m / m − 1 in the range of 1.137 − 4 . 684 m − 1 and − 18.95 n m / m − 1 in the range of 4.766 − 6 . 132 m − 1 , respectively. Moreover, this sensor has the advantage of low transmission loss, which is less than − 4 d B .