Single Crystal Fibers for High Temperature and Pressure Measurements

Very light sensors having a fast response time are required for making direct, nonintrusive measurements in a propulsion system environment. In order to monitor key physical parameters in this environment, it will be necessary to develop new concepts in sensor design to measure such things as temperature and pressure. Present day sensors will not operate reliably in this environment and are much too large. Fiber optic sensors offer a possible solution to this problem. Lasergeneics Corporation is proposing to investigate single crystal fibers of YAG and YALO for this application. These materials can withstand the harsh environment that will exist. We are proposing a unique approach that would allow the measurement of both temperature and pressure with a single fiber optic. This concept will be tested during the Phase I effort. For the Phase Ii effort we will determine sensor and data transmission link design characteristics usable in this environment and build and test such a system. Anticipated Benefits: This program can result in a new concept for fiber optic sensors for temperature and pressure in harsh environments. They could find wide application in process control in the steel, chemical, and semiconductor industries, in fossil fuel and nuclear power generation plants, in plasma, fusion, MHD, combustion and chemical research.