Noval Optical Fiber Sensor for Toxic Gases

We will create a novel fiber-optic technique to detect the presence and monitor levels ofenvironmentally harmful gases emitted by utility companies and chemical industries as well as presentin inhabited places. Gas molecules are absorbed into a thin film whose optical properties are thenmonitored by surface plasmon spectroscopy. The advantage of this technique over the piezoelectricsensor includes a sensitivity improvement of at least one order of magnitude - it can be used at roomtemperature. Since this system works under resonant conditions, it will be more sensitive than otherfiber-optic techniques. Furthermore, since the light source and detector can be located far away fromthe sensor, this system can be used in hazardous environments. In Phase I, we will use this novelsystem to prove the principle of operation, and assess its sensitivity and specificity. In Phase II, thesetwo properties will be improved, and we shall construct a prototype to simultaneously monitor severalgases in many locations.