Identification of Reflectance Fiber Probe Configurations Efficiency through ASAP Simulation and Optical Fiber Sensor

This research introduced the simulation and the analysis performed through experimental setup to identify the best reflectance fiber probe configuration that able to measure the highest intensity of reflectance light from a sample. The reflectance fiber probe consists of two strands of fiber cable, one is for light emitting and another is to retrieve the reflected (or backscattered light) from the sample. The result in this research will assist in the entire development of spectroscopy kits for biological applications. The high intensity of backscattered light is desired in the measurement since it should meet the capability of the optical sensor to perform its measurement with high efficiency and accuracy. The fiber probe used in the design has the core with diameter of 1mm. The simulation of the optical design was conducted using ASAP software. It is identified that the highest intensity of backscattered light can be measured when the distance between probe’s end and the 100% reflective sample is put at 2 mm and the distance between the emitting and retrieving fiber cable is set to be at 0 mm. The consecutive simulation shows that the further the distance between the two fiber cables will lead to decreasing capacity of backscattered light.  In the experimental setup, an optical fiber sensor is used to perform the measurement of backscattered light. Plastic optical fiber with core diameter of 1 mm is used as fiber probe. The distance between the two fiber cores is fixed to be at 1 mm and the distance between probe and sample is adjusted for every 1 mm to identify the distance that can produce the best intensity of backscattered light. Two samples have been used in the experiment which is mirror and white Spectralon.  The highest intensity of backscattered light was identified at distance of 3 mm and 4 mm for mirror and Spectralon respectively.