Chalcogenide fiber loop probe for the mid-IR spectroscopy of oil products

A theoretical approach based on the electromagnetic theory of optical fibers has been applied in the analysis of the evanescent modes of a chalcogenide fiber bend used as a probe in a fiber-based spectroscopic sensor, by the example of the detection of small amounts of an antigel additive in a diesel fuel. The absorbance of the loop probe calculated for each mode was compared with the results of spectrometer-based measurements. The role of the higher-order evanescent modes of a fiber bend has been revealed. The efficiency of using a loop probe has been shown to depend on conditions of light launching into the probe.