| 摘要 |
An index of refraction sensor utilizing a sensor face inclined at the nominal critical angle of an incident beam, refracts or reflects this incident radiation depending upon the wavelength of that radiation and the index of refraction external to it. The refraction sensor apparatus includes a broadband radiant energy source, a radiant energy guidance and collimating means, a prism sensing element interposed in the radiant energy guide, and a detector for continuously detecting the spectral intensities of the broadband radiant energy reflected by the prism sensing element. Advantageously, a single mode optical fiber may be used as the radiant energy guidance and collimating means for directing the broadband radiant energy to the prism and a multimode optical fiber may be used for returning the reflected radiant energy to the detector. The prism sensing element is fabricated of a suitable transparent material, that material ranging from silica to dense flint glass to titanium dioxide depending upon the desired optical dispersion and sensitivity. Additionally, the single mode optical fiber end itself can be ground and polished to be the prism sensing element and, with a mirrored face at a particular angle to the reflected ray, the single mode fiber can also be the return guidance means to the detector.
|
