High-resolution optical fiber underwater acoustic sensor enhanced by PDMS coating

This study introduces a high-resolution optical fiber underwater acoustic sensor utilizing a Fabry-Perot (FP) interferometer design. The sensor consists of a single-mode fiber (SMF) integrated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), forming an FP cavity at the coated SMF terminus. The exceptional elasticity of PDMS amplifies vibrations from acoustic stimuli, modulating the FP cavity for effective acoustic wave detection. This integration of the probe within a single fiber, along with the PDMS coating technique, enhances the sensor’s SNR, resolution, and frequency response. The sensor’s simplicity, cost-effectiveness, superior signal-to-noise ratio, and low power consumption make it a promising tool for underwater acoustic applications.