Multi-step structure of side-polished fiber sensor to enhance SPR effect

A multi-step side-polished multi-mode fiber sensor structure based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and transverse magnetic (TM)-field-mode coupling phenomena is proposed. The multi-step structure with single-step, two-step, and three-step SPR fiber sensors are demonstrated via the difference in the SPR response for DI water. The time dependence of the measured intensity of transmitted light with the multi-step structure is observed as the variation increased. The structure with the advantages of no bulky components and no complicated signal processing gives an obvious SPR response and provides a two-fold increase for the sensitivity of intensity measurement.