Dynamic strain measurement using an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensor and an arrayed waveguide grating device

In this paper, we demonstrate an interrogation system, based on an arrayed waveguide grating, capable of monitoring dynamic strain in a cantilever beam at frequencies up to 5 kHz (limited by the actuator) with a similar precision to resistive strain gauges.     

An arrayed waveguide grating based multiplexer and interrogator for Fabry-Perot sensors

In this paper, we propose an interrogation system capable of multiplexing four identical Fabry-Perot (FP) interferometric sensors using two wavelength-division multiplexing devices. One is a 40-channel DWDM channel monitor, the other a four-channel CWDM device. The sensors are connected to the output channels of the CWDM device in order to assign a portion of the spectrum to each sensor. The reflected spectra are then analyzed using the DWDM channel monitor. By monitoring the power incident on each of the DWDM channels, the four sensor reflection spectra can be reconstructed in software and information relating to the measurand obtained. Based on software simulations and previous laboratory experiments with single sensors, it is predicted that this system would be capable of interrogating four EFPI strain sensors simultaneously at frequencies greater than 5 kHz with a resolution of approximately 2 /spl mu//spl epsiv/ and a range of 3000 /spl mu//spl epsiv/.     

High-resolution interrogation technique for fiber optic extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors by the peak-to-peak method

An improved peak-to-peak method is developed for interrogating the absolute cavity length of fiber optic extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) sensors with high resolution. A fiber Fabry-Perot tunable filter (FFP-TF) is used to scan the optical spectrum of an EFPI, and the problems caused by the nonlinear performance and poor repeatability of the FFP-TF are removed by using a wavelength calibration technique. A linear fitting is used to calculate the wavelength spacing between two adjacent apexes in the optical spectrum, and the cavity length can be retrieved using this wavelength spacing. The experimental results show that the measuring resolution is improved from 25 to 1 microm, and a linear output is also obtained.     

非本征光纤法珀传感器的振动特性研究

针对光纤法珀(Fabry-Perot, FP)超声波传感器振动特性,将传感器薄板振动简化为具有集中参数的二阶振动,推导二阶振动方程的集中参数(力阻抗、等效质量、弹性系数、集中力),获得传感器共振频率、振幅灵敏度与结构参数设计关系。测试直径2.52 mm、厚度150 μm玻璃振动薄板在空气、水中的共振频率分别为205 kHz及115 kHz,水介质中共振频率振幅灵敏度约18 pm/Pa。制作的传感器可测试局放产生超声波的最小声压约1 Pa。     

阵列波导光栅解复用器光谱响应特性分析

基于单模光波导本征模场及其端面衍射场分布的高斯近似表达,推导出两个端面非接触光波导耦合的耦合系数的函数表达式,并基于此推导出阵列波导光栅解复用器的简单光谱响应效率的函数表达式。建立了分析阵列波导光栅解复用器光谱响应特性的简洁数学模型,阐明了阵列波导光栅解复用器对通道中心频率的响应度和相邻信号通道间的串扰与基本参数的关系,为设计和分析阵列波导光栅解复用器提供了理论基础。     

一种新颖的偏振不敏感的阵列波导光栅

提出了一种新颖偏振不敏感的阵列波导光栅(AWG)。器件的输入端增加了一个全光学偏振自动控制器(AOPSC),可将注入AWG的随机偏振的输入光转换为与AWG中TE0模偏振方向相同且功率损耗很小的线偏振光。AWG结构设计采用非对称的平面波导,包层与波导芯层的相对折射率差为0.7%,波导芯层的宽厚比要高,可以消除TE与TM模的简并,使波导中只能激励TE0模,而使TM0模截止。这种AWG结构完全消除了不同偏振态信号光对AWG工作性能的影响,从而使器件对偏振不敏感。设计的8×0.8nm器件整体尺寸为2cm×1cm,串扰优于-30dB,最大插入损耗为4.2dB。     

Development of a parallel demodulation system used for extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer and fiber Bragg grating sensors

A parallel demodulation system for extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors is presented, which is based on a Michelson interferometer and combines the methods of low-coherence interference and a Fourier-transform spectrum. The parallel demodulation theory is modeled with Fourier-transform spectrum technology, and a signal separation method with an EFPI and FBG is proposed. The design of an optical path difference scanning and sampling method without a reference light is described. Experiments show that the parallel demodulation system has good spectrum demodulation and low-coherence interference demodulation performance. It can realize simultaneous strain and temperature measurements while keeping the whole system configuration less complex.     

Cost-effective and high-resolution wavelength interrogation unit using an incomplete asymmetric arrayed waveguide grating

This paper presents a wavelength interrogation unit using an incomplete asymmetric arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) without output waveguides. The incomplete asymmetric AWG converts the wavelengths of the incident light into a spatial intensity distribution. The center of the spatial distribution is determined by a one-dimensional position sensitive detector (PSD). The simulation results show that wavelength shifts can be precisely interrogated by the device with a wavelength resolution of 3.5 pm. The device can be applied to the interrogation of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensors with the temperature resolution of 0.3°C.     

Embossable grating couplers for planar waveguide optical sensors

Planar optical waveguides are an attractive tool for use in analytical chemistry and spectroscopy. Although similar to fiber optics, planar waveguides have been slow to be commercially accepted due to the difficulty of coupling light into the guide. Generally, prism coupling is the method of choice in the laboratory, as efficiencies approaching 80% can be reached. However, prisms are impractical for routine use for several reasons: expensive positioning equipment is required, coupled power is sensitive to environmental fluctuations, and prism coupling prohibits the fabrication of a truly planar device. The use of thin gratings on the surface of the waveguide allows for a two-dimensional structure to be maintained, while providing enough efficiency to be useful as a sensor. Our research efforts focus on developing a technique to make inexpensive, reproducible gratings that are easy to fabricate. By chemically modifying the surface of a commercial grating with a suitable release agent, it is possible to emboss replica gratings onto a variety of waveguide types. The fabrication of embossed gratings will be described, and their performance on glass, ion-diffused, polymer, and semiconductor waveguides will be presented.     

Reduction of sidewall roughness, insertion loss and crosstalk of polymer arrayed waveguide grating using vapor-redissolution technique

An efficient vapor-redissolution technique is used to greatly reduce sidewall scattering loss in the polymer arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) fabricated on a silicon substrate. Smoother sidewalls are achieved and verified by a scanning electron microscopy. Reduction of sidewall scattering loss is further measured for the loss measurement of both straight waveguides and AWG devices. The sidewall loss in straight polymer waveguide is decreased by 2.1 dB/cm, the insertion loss of our AWG device is reduced by about 5.5 dB for the central channel and 6.7 dB for the edge channels, and the crosstalk is reduced by 2.5 dB after the vapor-redissoluton treatment.