Multimode fiber-optic pressure sensor based on the photoelastic effect.

A multimode fiber-optic pressure sensor is described that is based on the photoelastic effect. The device was shown to be able to detect pressures as small as 95 Pa, to have a dynamic range of 86 dB, and to have hysteresis less than 0.01. Device sensitivity may easily be modified to coincide with required measurement sensitivity through careful choice of the active photoelastic material. The device is simple, rugged, electrically passive, and compatible with existing multimode technology.