Phase sensitive signal analysis for bi-tapered optical fibers

Our study examines the transmission characteristics of bi-tapered optical fibers, i.e. fibers that have a tapered down and up span with a waist length separating them. The applications to aqueous and vapor phase biomolecular sensing demand high sensitivity. A bi-tapered optical fiber platform is suited for label-free biomolecular detection and can be optimized by modification of the length, diameter and surface properties of the tapered region. We have developed a phase sensitive method based on interference of two or more modes of the fiber and we demonstrate that our fiber sensitivity is of order 10 -4 refractive index units. Higher sensitivity can be achieved, as needed, by enhancing the fiber design characteristics.