Temperature sensitivity of waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer

Abstract

This thesis is part of a project that aims to develop a sensor for the detection of methane in the air and in water based on a waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The main application of this sensor is monitoring the environment and the ability to detect a leakage of methane. The development of a sensor includes analysis of operational conditions. In this project one of the greatest concerns is temperature. The temperature difference can reach several tens of degrees in the air, and several degrees in the sea. This thesis will focus on the temperature effect on the sensor output, rather than on the measurement of methane. The aim is to study sensitivity of the devices in order to reduce the temperature dependence during further measurements of methane concentration.