Fiber-optic transducers of physical field parameters (review)

A description is given of a new class of transducers (sensors) of physical field parameters in which low-loss fiber waveguides are employed. It is shown that a high sensitivity of fiber-optic transducers can be achieved for various experimental geometries. Descriptions are given of the construction of fiber-optic transducers of elastic vibrations, pressure, temperature, electromagnetic fields, and ionizing radiations. A classification is proposed for fiber-optic transducers on the basis of the physical fields detected by them, in accordance with the effect of such fields on light traveling in a fiber waveguide, and in accordance with the interaction resulting in stimulated emission from fiber waveguides.