Method of using thin-clad near infrared transparent optical glass fibers as evanescent wave sensors

摘要

A method of analyzing a chemical reaction in a material including the steps of embedding in a material an optical fiber having a cladding along substantially the entire length thereof that is in contact with the material, transmitting light through the optical fiber, and performing evanescent wave spectroscopy on the light transmitted through the optical fiber. The optical fiber preferably has a core 10-30 &mgr;m in diameter and a cladding that is on the order of 1 &mgr;m thick.