2. Fiber Optic Interferometric Devices

Fiber optic interferometry can be broadly explained as the techniques that utilize the fundamental principles of optical interference to measure physical sample properties or detect changes via sensing systems that are partially or completely realized using fiber optic components. While the field of optical interference dates back to second half of seventeenth century, the advent of fiber optic interferometry technology is rather recent as it stemmed out of advances in the fiber optics in late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Over the last few decades, the technology has found wide range of commercial and industrial applications including strain sensors for structural monitoring, medical imaging, remote sensing and precise measurement applications. The basic fundamentals of various fiber interferometric devices and components will be covered in this chapter.