Static pressure sensitivity amplification in interferometric fiber-optic hydrophones.

The induced optical phase change produced when a static pressure is applied to the test arm of an interferometric single-mode fiber optic hydrophone is examined in terms of hydrostatic and radial mechanical models. The expressions for the models are given in terms of a 3-D solution to the equations of elastostatics for multilayered cylinders. The induced phase change is calculated using both models for various values of the diameter and elastic properties of fiber jacket materials. It is shown that the phase change predicted from the 3-D approach for each model can be adequately described in terms of much simpler 2-D plane strain models. Calculations show that the hydrophone sensitivity of a jacketed fiber is amplified compared with a bare fiber. The largest increase in sensitivity is predicted with the radial model. Calculated sensitivities for the hydrostatic model are shown to correspond closely in value with static pressure sensitivity measurements for the experimental arrangement used here.