This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been

fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI
10.1109/JLT.2015.2477353, Journal of Lightwave Technology
JLT-17721-2015 1

Theoretical design of a high sensitivity SPR-

based optical fiber pressure sensor
Daniel P. Duarte, Student Member, OSA, Nélia Alberto, Lúcia Bilro, Rogério Nogueira, Member,
IEEE, OSA

interface will originate a plasmon (charge density) oscillation

Abstract— A theoretical analysis for a new high sensitivity dependent of the incident light angle at the interface and the
pressure sensor based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) dielectric RI. With the integration of SPR technology with
phenomenon is presented. The device consists in a thin metal film optical fiber, all its advantageous properties can be exploited.
deposited on the cladding of a U-shaped optical fiber probe
This includes flexibility and small size, lightweight, online
embedded in a silicon rubber block. When the block is under
pressure, the bending radius will vary and consequently a shift monitoring, remote sensing and absence of electromagnetic
on the SPR wavelength can be noticed and converted to pressure interferences [4], [5].
units. Theoretical simulations using the transfer matrix The most of the gas pressure sensors reported in the
formalism and the N-layer U-shaped fiber model were developed literature based on SPR use the prism configuration [6], [7].
and implemented for three different metals: gold, copper and The resolution achieved was 16 kPa, nonetheless, in this case,
silver. A resolution of 5.9x10-4, 6.3x10-4 and 1.3x10-3 kPa can be
the advantages of the optical fiber technology are not
expected for gold, copper and silver, respectively for a working
range up to 0.12 MPa. The proposed structure reveals to be exploited. On the other hand, the most common optical fiber
suitable to high sensitivity pressure measurements, including based pressure sensors already developed applying the
industrial operating machinery and R&D applications. technology of Fabry–Perot (FP) interferometers [2], [8].
Although the best resolution device was 0.02 kPa, the
Index Terms— Optical fiber sensors, plasmons, pressure production of this structure can be complex. Another possible
measurement, theory and design configuration involves the use of fiber Bragg grating (FBG)
elements, providing the best resolutions also down to 0.02 kPa
[9]-[11], still this solution requires an expensive grating
I. INTRODUCTION
inscription system. A theoretical proposal for a SPR-based

P RESSURE measurements using conventional electrical

gauges for high temperature, explosive and/or corrosive
environments have high failure rates. This problem attracted
optical fiber pressure sensor can be found in [12], where a
metal coated fiber tip is embedded in a rubbery polymer and
an external pressure will cause a RI variation. Theoretical
the attention of academic and industrial researchers to develop sensitivity up to 1.75×103 nm/MPa is reported, nevertheless,
optical fiber based pressure sensors for applications like this configuration has the drawback of requiring the etching of
compressors, turbines and other operating machinery, high the cladding with a precise and controlled process.
intensity sound, turbulence and downhole environments, Here, it is proposed a novel theoretical design of a high
where the pressure monitoring is essential [1]-[3]. sensitivity SPR-based optical fiber pressure sensor considering
New concepts based on the surface plasmon resonance a U-shaped multimode optical fiber probe coated with a
(SPR) technology has shown to attain high refractive index 50 nm-thick metal film, embedded in a silicon rubber block.
(RI) sensitivities, being a research motivation to develop SPR The sensing principle is based on the SPR resonance shift
based sensors. The light interaction between a metal-dielectric caused by the bending changes of the U-shape probe when the
block is submitted to pressure variations. The U-shaped
Manuscript received April 23, 2015; revised June 20, 2015; accepted configuration was already used in a theoretical study by
September 02, 2015. Date of publication XXX XX, 2015. This work is funded
by FCT/MEC through national funds and co-funded by FEDER – PT2020 Verma and Gupta [13], where high refractive index
partnership agreement under the projects PEstOE/EEI/LA0008/2013 and sensitivities up to 70 μm/RIU are predicted. However, in this
UID/EEA/50008/2013. Lúcia Bilro and Nélia Alberto gratefully acknowledge case, they considered the cladding etching, making the fiber
the financial support from FCT through the fellowships IF/01664/2014 and
SFRH/BPD/78141/2011 respectively. probe more fragile and its production process more complex.
Daniel P. Duarte is with the Instituto de Telecomunicações - Pólo de Recently, we presented a new theoretical study of a U-shaped
Aveiro and Department of Physics, Aveiro University, 3810-193 Aveiro, configuration considering the presence of the fiber cladding,
Portugal (e-mail: dduarte@av.it.pt).
Nélia Alberto is with the Instituto de Telecomunicações - Pólo de Aveiro achieving theoretical sensitivities up to 100 μm/RIU and
and Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation, Department of showing the potentiality of this configuration for sensing
Mechanical Engineering, Aveiro University, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal applications [14]. For the pressure monitoring, in this work
(e-mail: nelia@av.it.pt).
Lúcia Bilro and Rogério Nogueira are with the Instituto de
we propose to embed the cladded fiber probe in a silicon
Telecomunicações - Pólo de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal (e-mail: rubber block, making the system has robust and, additionally
lucia.bilro@av.it.pt, rnogueira@av.it.pt).

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This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI
10.1109/JLT.2015.2477353, Journal of Lightwave Technology
JLT-17721-2015 2

the block provides protection to the metal layer allowing the

possibility to use lower chemical stability metals like cooper.
On the other hand, the refractive index of the block is ideal to
use the U-shaped probe at the optical communication
wavelengths and its respective electronics. With this design,
greatly better pressure sensitivities are expected compared to
those already reported using other optical fiber based
technologies.

II. SENSOR DESCRIPTION

A. Theory
The SPR based sensors explore the SPR phenomenon of
light interaction with a metal-dielectric interface. An
exponential decaying plasma wave travelling through the
metal-dielectric interface is created when incident light is
coupled with the interface under certain conditions. This is
only possible when the energy and wave vector of the incident
light equals to that of the surface plasmon modes supported by
the interface. Direct light incidence to the interface will not
create the plasma wave since its wave vector is always smaller
than that of the interface surface plasmon. Moreover, only
TM light will be able to excite surface plasmons since the
generated wave is transverse magnetically (TM) polarized.
The use of a prism configuration or optical fiber [4], [15]
meets all these requirements and assure the high refractive
index medium necessary for the propagation of the higher
incident light wave vector.
The wave vector of surface plasmon (ksp) and evanescent
wave (kev) are given by the following relations:
Fig. 1. a) Experimental apparatus of the proposed sensor under pressure in the
1/ 2 bending plan. b) SPR sensor head in detail.
 ε ε 
k sp = k 0  m s  (1)
εm +εs  plan of the fiber, the bending radius will vary and
consequently the SPR wavelength changes. In this
ω configuration and for later calculations, four layers must be
k ev = k f sin(θ ) = ε f sin(θ ) (2) considered: the core and cladding of the fiber, the metal layer
c and finally the silicon rubber medium. Because metal
nanoparticles are not dependent on incident light angle, this
where, k0 is the wave vector of light in free space, εm and εs are other method of plasmon resonance cannot be used in this
the dielectric constants of the metal and the dielectric medium configuration. All the layers are represented in Fig. 2 in a two
respectively, kf is the wave vector of light at the fiber, εf the dimensional geometry consideration. Propagation rays are
dielectric constant of the fiber, ω the angular frequency, c the represented by a vector indicating the propagation direction of
speed of light in free space and θ the resonance angle. The the wavefront. They are also confined in the bending plan.
equality of the wave vector of the evanescent wave and the This approach, valid only for multimode fibers, makes the
surface plasmon wave is a necessary condition to verify the analysis simpler and is being used by several authors which
total energy transfer. It is given by: consider that this approximation, that contemplates only
1/ 2
meridional rays, is sufficient for a complete understanding of
ω ω ε ε  sensors performances [13], [16]. For a wavelength
ε f sin(θ ) =  m s  . (3)
c c εm +εs 
interrogation method, polychromatic light must be considered.
A ray propagating through the fiber core will reach the
boundary between the straight and the bent region, with a
B. Sensor Structure distance h from the core–cladding interface and an angle θ
The SPR-based optical fiber pressure sensor here proposed with the normal of the same interface. Following its
has a U-shaped configuration [14], where the fiber is bent with propagation through the bent region, it will encounter the
an R radius and embedded in a silicon rubber block (Fig. 1). core-cladding boundary and, by Snell law, the ray will have
When pressure forces are applied on the block, in the bending the possibility to propagate through the cladding medium. This
will only happen if the angle of incidence between the ray and
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purposes must be obtained from the IEEE by sending a request to pubs-permissions@ieee.org.
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This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI
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JLT-17721-2015 3

 ncr R + Rcl − Rcr + h 

δ = sin −1  ⋅ sin(θ )  (5)
 ncl R 

where Rcl, ncl, Rcr, and ncr are the radius and refractive index of
the cladding and core fiber, respectively.
C. Numerical Simulation
As already described, the formation of the SPR will only
happen since the necessary conditions of energy transfer given
by the fiber cladding, the metal layer and the silicon rubber
medium of the block are satisfied. For these three layers, a
transfer matrix formalism was used in the simulation of the
system and the reflectance was calculated based on an N-layer
model [14], [16], [17]. Maxwell equations will give the
solution that relates the electromagnetic amplitude quantities,
electric (E) and magnetic (H) field vectors, by the formula:

= [M ]× N
E0 E (6)
H0 HN

where [M] is the characteristic transfer matrix of the layer

defined by:

 − i sin δ k  
M 12  N −1   cos δ k
[M ] =  
M 11
=∏
(7)
ηk
M 22  k =1   
 21 cos δ k  
M
Fig. 2. Schematic representation of the U-shaped SPR optical fiber probe  − i η k sin δ k
inside the rubber block. All parameters here presented are described in the
text. with δk the phase vector and ηk the optical admittance of the kth
the normal of the incident plane is lower than the critical layer which, for p-polarized light, are dependent of the
angle. Otherwise, the light ray will continue its path inside the dielectric function εk, the thickness dk of the layer, the incident
core. All rays capable of propagate inside the cladding angle θ0 and wavelength λ, defined by:
medium will then encounter the outer radius metal layer with
an incident angle ϕ with respect to the normal of incident 2πd k
δk = (ε k − n0 sin 2 θ 0 )1 / 2 (8)
plane. This incident light will have all the requirements to λ
create plasmonic wave excitation for certain wavelengths
while the other rays will reflect and continue their paths εk
ηk = . (9)
through the cladding medium, directing up to the fiber core. (ε k − n0 sin 2 θ 0 )1 / 2
Once it reaches the cladding-core boundary, Snell refraction
phenomena will happen, propagating through the core until it The p-polarized reflectance of the structure is finally given
reaches the inner core-cladding boundary and, when possible, in term of Fresnel reflection coefficient (frp) that is related to
the inner radius metal layer. Therefore, the incident rays will the elements of M by:
have an angle δ with respect to the normal of incident plane.
Again, plasmonic wave excitation for certain wavelengths will 2
2 ( M 11 + M 12 ⋅ η N )η 0 − ( M 21 + M 22 ⋅ η N ) . (10)
occur. Non-absorbed light will then be reflected and Frp = f rp =
propagated through a new cycle until the bending region is ( M 11 + M 12 ⋅ η N )η 0 + ( M 21 + M 22 ⋅ η N )
over.
The reflection angles in the outer (φ) and the inner (δ)
surfaces of the U-region can be calculated with the application In this proposed structure it is required two different
of the sine rule and Snell law considering the dependence of reflection angles (φ and δ in (4) and (5)) corresponding to the
both parameters on h and θ. inner and outer metal interface. For each angle and, by
association with each interface, it will also have two different
calculated reflectance values in (10), namely Fφ and Fδ where
 n R + Rcl − Rcr + h  θ0, in (8), will be respectively φ and δ.
ϕ = sin −1  cr ⋅ sin(θ )  (4)
 ncl R + 2 Rcl  For the dependency of the refractive index of the silica fiber
core, in this case a step-index multimode fiber structure, with

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JLT-17721-2015 4

the wavelength, it was used the Sellmeier dispersion relation, completes a full reflection cycle, as seen in Fig. 2. These
given by the following expression [18]: quantities will have dependence on the morphology of the
fiber and its bent radius:
a1 λ 2 a 2 λ2 a3 λ2 (11)
ncr = 1 + + +   R + Rcl − Rcr + h 
λ2 − b12 λ2 − b22 λ 2 − b32 d1 = θ − sin −1  sin(θ )  × (R + Rcl ) (15)
  R + Rcl + Rcr 
where a1, a2, a3, b1, b2 and b3 are the Sellmeier coefficients
with the respective values of a1=0.6961663, a2=0.4079426,   n R + Rcl − Rcr + h 
d 2 = 2 × sin −1  cr ⋅ sin(θ ) 
a3=0.8974794, b1=0.068404×(T/300)2, b2=0,1162414×(T/300)2   ncl R + Rcl + Rcr  (16)
and b3= 9.896161, with the temperature T in Kelvin and the
 n R + Rcl − Rcr + h 
wavelength λ in micrometer. The refractive index of the fiber − sin −1  cr ⋅ sin(θ )  × (R + Rcl )
cladding is directly derived from its fixed numerical aperture,  ncl R + 2 Rcl 
NA.
The dependence of the refractive index of the metal layers   R + Rcl − Rcr + h 
with the wavelength was determined using the experimental d 3 = sin −1  sin(θ ) 
data obtained by Johnson and Christy [19]. The values were   R + Rcl − Rcr  (17)
converted to the dielectric function and an interpolation was  R + Rcl − Rcr + h 
applied between the existing data. − sin −1  sin(θ )  × (R + Rcl )
Assuming a collimated light source launched at one end of  R + R cl + R cr 
the optical fiber and focused with a microscopic objective to
the fiber end-face, where the output is collected at the other   n R + Rcl − Rcr + h 
end of the fiber with a detection system, the power distribution d 4 = 2 × sin −1  cr ⋅ sin(θ ) 
of light can be expressed as [20]:   ncl R  (18)
 n R + Rcl − Rcr + h 
n 2 sin θ cosθ − sin −1  cr ⋅ sin(θ )  × (R + Rcl )
P(θ )dθ ∝ 0 2 dθ (12)  ncl R + Rcl − Rcr 
(1 − n0 cos 2 θ ) 2
With the detection of the transmitted power resonant dip
where θ is the angle of the ray with the normal of the core– shifts by a spectral analyzer, it is possible to determine the
cladding interface. The range of θ values possible for the fiber bending variation (Rv) and, therefore, the applied
launched rays at the input of the fiber is limited in its lower pressure (Pr) to the block. Knowing the Young modulus (Y) of
value depending on the fiber core and cladding refractive the silicon rubber and the initial bending radius (R0) of the
indices. This dependence is called critical angle, given by the sensor, we have the following relation:
relation: θcr=sin-1(ncl/ncr). The maximum value of θ is π/2. The
h value is related to the distance between the core-cladding R − R0 .
interface and the spatial point where the ray reaches the Pr = εY with ε = v (19)
boundary of the straight and the U-shaped region. The values R0
of h can range from 0 to the fiber core diameter (2Rcr). The
contribution of all rays and multi-reflections are necessary to The sensitivity (S) of the sensor will be determined by the
determine the total transmitted power: correlation of the resonance wavelength shift δλres to
increments of pressure δPr defined by:
π
2 Rcr n02 sin θ cos θ
∫ ∫θ
0
2
[ Fϕ (θ , h) × Fδ (θ , h)] N R (θ ,h )
(1 − n02 cos 2 θ ) 2
dθ dh
δλres
PT = S=
cr

π
(20)
2 Rcr n02 sin θ cos θ δPr
∫ ∫θ
0
2
cr (1 − n02 cos 2 θ ) 2
dθ dh

(13) Preliminary simulation testing has shown that the diameter

of the fiber and NA are parameters that can be selected to
In (13), NR is the approximated number of reflections of the improve sensitivity. A lower core radius will increase the
rays through the U-shaped region based on the arc length sensitivity of the sensor but, on the other hand, the spectrum
calculation: will be broad and a better detector will be needed. This can be
explained by the additional reflection angles that a lower core
π ( R + Rcl ) − d1 radius will allow and consequently more absorption by the
NR = (14) metal in all wavelengths. For a lower cladding radius,
d 2 + 2d 3 + d 4
sensitivity will be worse and a blue shift of the resonance will
occur, where necessary adjustments to the initial bending
where d1, d2, d3 and d4 are length quantities of a ray radius will be needed to shift it back to the desired operation
propagating in the core and cladding fiber medium until it wavelengths. This adjustment reduces the bending radius,

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This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI
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JLT-17721-2015 5

which can compromise an experimental realization without

breaking the optical fiber. Lower NA originates less broad
spectra mainly because of the selection of angle rays allowed
to travel through the fiber. Therefore, the possibility to occur
plasmon resonance for each wavelength of the spectrum will
be lower. In other words there will be more selectivity in the
surface plasmon phenomena that will occur mainly in the
resonance wavelength. All these preliminary tests were
considered in order to choose the parameters for the pressure
sensor here presented. Based on a search for commercial
fibers that would maximize the sensitivity and avoid to bend
the fiber extremely, the parameters presented hereafter were
based on a real commercial fiber (Thorlabs HPSC25).
Three different metal layers were studied for this SPR-
based optical fiber pressure sensor: gold, silver and copper.
Gold has the higher chemical stability and copper the lowest
[21], however corrosion problems will be avoided due to its
integration in the silicon rubber block. The metal thickness
was fixed at 50 nm. The considered fiber core and cladding
have radiuses of Rcr=12.5 μm and Rcl =62.5 μm, respectively,
with NA= 0.1. The silicon rubber block has a RI of 1.41 and a
Young modulus in the order of 1 MPa [22], [23]. The initial
bending radiuses of the fiber were selected to work in a
wavelength range between 1450 and 1600 nm, so it can be
used with common optical communications electronics. In this
case, the initial radiuses were 4.8, 4.9 and 3.9 mm, for gold,
copper and silver, respectively.

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Transfer matrix formalism discussed previously was used to
predict the behavior of this device. Fig. 3a shows simulated
transmitted spectra obtained for a fiber coated with a silver
layer for a range of bending radiuses between 3.9 and 3.4 mm.
As expected, it is possible to observe a red shift of the
resonance when the bending radius diminishes, since the
Fig. 3. a) Simulated resonance spectra obtained for a fiber coated with a silver
average incident angles of light are decreasing. The behavior layer with bending radius between 3.9 and 3.4 mm. b) Variation of the SPR
for the three metals can be better visualized in Fig. 3b where wavelength with the bending radius for the three metal thin films.
the resonance wavelength was plotted as function of the radius
variation. 1500 to 1630 nm/MPa are expected below 0.03 MPa, being
The gold and copper metals show a similar behavior with slightly lower than gold in this pressure range, but it has to be
the decrease of the bending radius, first a linear dependence in consideration that copper is a cheaper metal and more
and then toward to a constant value. Silver presents a linear suitable for commercial applications. The sensitivity for these
behavior over the entire operating range, being the working two metals will then decrease until it reaches values lower
limit verified around 1550 nm, wavelength from which is than 300 nm/MPa at 0.12 MPa. In the case of the silver metal,
difficult to determine the resonance value, since the the sensitivity has a more constant behavior between all its
modulation limits for this metal are achieved. range of pressures, with values of about 600-800 nm/MPa,
The results of Fig. 3b were converted to pressure values, being more suitable for measurements demanding higher
obtained through (19) and presented in Fig. 4a. A maximum pressure values. Considering an optical spectral analyzer with
pressure value of about 0.12 MPa can be measured in the a wavelength resolution of 1 pm, the expected higher
range of 1450-1600 nm, however the sensitivity in the case of resolutions for gold, copper and silver are around
the gold and copper metals for higher values of pressure is 5.9x10-4, 6.3x10-4 and 1.3x10-3 kPa, respectively, although
significantly lower when compared with silver, as shown in bearing in mind the approximations made in this model
Fig. 4b where a sensitivity pressure dependence plot is (ignoring the contribution of skew rays) as well as
presented. For pressure values below to 0.03 MPa, sensitivities experimental aspects like measurement errors and calibrations
higher than 1700 nm/MPa are expected for the gold layer. that are not considered, lower resolutions are expected for real
These values are at the same order of magnitude as the applications. Despite all, the resolutions here predicted are
obtained also theoretically by Haokun Mi et al. in their SPR greatly better than those already reported using optical fiber
proposed configuration [12], but without the drawback of based technologies like FP interferometer and Bragg gratings
cladding removal. In the case of copper, sensitivities between with values of about 2x10-2 kPa [2], [8]-[11] for the operation

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This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI
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JLT-17721-2015 6

obtainable for copper, however lower sensitivities were

obtained compared with those achieved with the gold layer.
Silver shown to have more constant sensitivity values around
750 nm/MPa. High sensitivity pressure measurements in
systems like industrial operating machinery and downhole
environments are suitable for the application of the proposed
structure.

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This article has been accepted for publication in a future issue of this journal, but has not been fully edited. Content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI
10.1109/JLT.2015.2477353, Journal of Lightwave Technology
JLT-17721-2015 7

[22] Materials, AZO, “Silicone Rubber,” Granta Design Limited, Available:

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[23] Momentive, “InvisiSil* IVS4312,” Available:
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Copyright (c) 2015 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to use this material for any other
purposes must be obtained from the IEEE by sending a request to pubs-permissions@ieee.org.
0733-8724 (c) 2015 IEEE. Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission. See
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