Numerical modeling of a rectangular hollow-core waveguide for the detection of fuel adulteration in terahertz region

Abstract

A petrol adulteration sensor based on a rectangular shaped hollow-core photonic crystal fiber is proposed and numerically analyzed in the terahertz regime. The performance of the proposed sensor was evaluated when it is employed to characterize different kerosene mixtures. In this research, the adulterated fuel sample is filled in the rectangular hollow channel and the electromagnetic signal of the terahertz band is also driven through the same channel. The received signal after the interaction of fuel with the terahertz signal will advise the refractive index of the fuel oil inside the core, which will also bear the information of how much extrinsic component is present in the fuel. The finite element method based simulation shows that the proposed sensor can reach a high relative sensitivity of 89% and presents low confinement losses at 2.8 THz. The reported sensing structure is easily realizable with the conventional manufacturing techniques. Consequently, this proposed fiber may be treated as an essential part of real-life applications of petrol adulteration measurements.