Fourier analysis for hydrostatic pressure sensing in a polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber

We measured the hydrostatic pressure dependence of the birefringence and birefringent dispersion of a Sagnac interferometric sensor incorporating a length of highly birefringent photonic crystal fiber using Fourier analysis. Sensitivity of both the phase and chirp spectra to hydrostatic pressure is demonstrated. Using this analysis, phase-based measurements showed a good linearity with an effective sensitivity of 9.45 nm/MPa and an accuracy of ±7.8 kPa using wavelength-encoded data and an effective sensitivity of -55.7 cm(-1)/MPa and an accuracy of ±4.4 kPa using wavenumber-encoded data. Chirp-based measurements, though nonlinear in response, showed an improvement in accuracy at certain pressure ranges with an accuracy of ±5.5 kPa for the full range of measured pressures using wavelength-encoded data and dropping to within ±2.5 kPa in the range of 0.17 to 0.4 MPa using wavenumber-encoded data. Improvements of the accuracy demonstrated the usefulness of implementing chirp-based analysis for sensing purposes.     

Practical coupling device based on a two-core optical fiber

A practical coupling device that relies on a dual-core fiber in a loop configuration is presented. Its coupling properties are analyzed in terms of the optical path difference between the cores, which is controlled by the rotation of the fiber about its axis and by a small twist applied to it along the loop. The device actually acts as an anisotropic coupler, and the coupled power can be perfectly controlled from 0-100% by proper adjustment of the loop. A simple implementation of the device was used in the fabrication of a compact single-fiber Michelson interferometer.     

Polarimetric fiber laser sensor for hydrostatic pressure

A polarimetric Fabry-Perot fiber laser sensor for fluid pressure up to 100 MPa is investigated. The fluid acts on one of two elliptical-core fiber sections in the laser cavity, producing a shift in the differential phase of the two orthogonal polarization modes and thus a variation in the beat frequencies of the corresponding longitudinal laser modes. The second fiber section, with a 90 degrees offset in the core orientation, compensates for temperature-induced phase shifts. The dispersion in the birefringent fiber Bragg grating reflectors is employed to remove the near degeneracy of the polarization mode beat frequencies of a given order and to improve substantially the resolution of the sensor to a few parts in 10(6) of the free spectral range. Further investigations address the effect of the fluid on the integrity of the fiber, the influence of various fiber coatings on the sensor response, and the intrinsic stability of erbium-doped and undoped sensing fibers under fluid pressure.     

光纤传感用激光光源技术

光纤传感系统离不开激光光源,作为被测量信号载体的光波,激光光源本身的性能,如激光器的功率稳定性、线宽、相位噪声等参数对光纤传感系统的探测距离、探测精度、灵敏度以及噪声特性起决定性的作用,因此发展优质激光光源已成为近些年的研究热点。本文简要论述了激光光源在光纤传感领域的发展状况;重点介绍了窄线宽激光光源、可调谐激光光源以及宽带白光光源在光纤传感技术领域中的应用需求;概括了现有激光光源在光纤传感中所面临的主要限制因素和关键技术。为了进一步提高光纤传感系统的性能指标,获得可在任意波段、任意时刻实现的超窄、超稳理想激光光源将是未来光纤传感的一个主要研究方向。

     

Temperature-insensitive polarimetric vibration sensor based on HiBi microstructured optical fiber

A new type of highly birefringent microstructured optical fiber has been tested for vibration measurements using a polarimetric technique. This technique takes advantage of the stress-induced phase shift between the two orthogonally polarized fiber eigenmodes. Comparison of three different fiber types shows that standard single-mode fibers do not provide stable measurements and that conventional polarization-maintaining fibers lead to a significant cross-sensitivity to temperature. However, for highly birefringent microstructured fibers specifically designed to provide a temperature-independent birefringence, our experiments show repeatable vibration measurements over a frequency range extending from 50?Hz to 1?kHz that are unaffected by temperature variations (up to 120?°C).     

Intermodal interferometer for strain and temperature sensing fabricated in birefringent boron doped microstructured fiber

We present a compact in-line fiber interferometric sensor fabricated in a boron doped two-mode highly birefringent microstructured fiber using a CO(2) laser. The intermodal interference arises at the fiber output due to coupling between the fundamental and the first order modes occurring at two fiber tapers distant by a few millimeters. The visibility of intermodal interference fringes is modulated by a polarimetric differential signal and varies in response to measurand changes. The proposed interferometer was tested for measurements of the strain and temperature, respectively, in the range of 20-700?°C and 0-17?mstrain. The sensitivity coefficients corresponding to fringe displacement and contrast variations are equal respectively for strain -2.51 nm/mstrain and -0.0256 1/mstrain and for temperature 16.7 pm/°C and 5.74×10(-5) 1/°C. This allows for simultaneous measurements of the two parameters by interrogation of the visibility and the displacement of interference fringes.     

Colloidal gold-modified optical fiber for chemical and biochemical sensing

A novel class of fiber-optic evanescent-wave sensor was constructed on the basis of modification of the unclad portion of an optical fiber with self-assembled gold colloids. The optical properties and, hence, the attenuated total reflection spectrum of self-assembled gold colloids on the optical fiber changes with different refractive index of the environment near the colloidal gold surface. With sucrose solutions of increasing refractive index, the sensor response decreases linearly. The colloidal gold surface was also functionalized with glycine, succinic acid, or biotin to enhance the selectivity of the sensor. Results show that the sensor response decreases linearly with increasing concentration of each analyte. When the colloidal gold surface was functionalized with biotin, the detection limit of the sensor for streptavidin was 9.8 x 10(-11) M. Using this approach, we demonstrate proof-of-concept of a class of refractive index sensor that is sensitive to the refractive index of the environment near the colloidal gold surface and, hence, is suitable for label-free detection of molecular or biomolecular binding at the surface of gold colloids.     

Effects of hydrostatic pressure on phase and group modal birefringence in microstructured holey fibers

We calculated the sensitivity of phase (dB/dp) and group (dG/dp) modal birefringence to hydrostatic pressure versus wavelength in two birefringent holey fibers of different construction, where B is the phase modal birefringence, G is the group modal birefringence, and p is the pressure applied to the fiber. The contributions of the geometrical effects that were related only to deformation of the holey structure and the stress-related contribution to the overall pressure sensitivities were analyzed separately. Our results show that these two factors decrease the phase modal birefringence in both structures, which results in negative signs of dB/dp and dG/dp. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the geometrical effects are much weaker than the stress-related effects and contribute only a few percent to the overall pressure sensitivity.     

Passively mode-locked fiber laser sensor for acoustic pressure sensing

The development is reported of a multi-longitudinal mode fiber laser sensor based on passive mode locking employing carbon nanotubes in the laser cavity. A polymer membrane is employed beneath the pre-strained erbium-doped fiber (EDF) to convert the sound pressure disturbance into axial strain, alter the cavity length, and induce a shift of the longitudinal modes beat. Hence, acoustic pressure measurement can be carried out by detecting the shift of the beat frequency. Experimental results show comparable strain and sound pressure sensitivity of ~0.5 kHz/με and 147.2 Hz/Pa, respectively. The proposed sensor is an alternative for the measurement of acoustic pressure and possesses the advantages of good stability and ease of interrogation.     

An optical fiber sensor for remote pH sensing and imaging

A fiber-optical probe for pH sensing and real-time imaging is successfully fabricated by connecting a polymer imaging fiber and a gradient index (GRIN) lens rod which was modified with a sensing film. By employing an improved metallographic microscope, an optical system is designed to cooperate with the probe. This novel technique has high-quality imaging capabilities for observing remote samples while measuring pH. The linear range of the probe is pH 1.2-3.5. This technique overcomes the difficulty that high-quality images cannot be obtained when directly using conventional imaging bundles for pH sensing and imaging. As preliminary applications, the corrosion behavior of an iron screw and the reaction process of rust were investigated in buffer solutions of pH 2.0 and 2.9, respectively. The experiment demonstrated that the pH values of the analytes' surface were higher than that of buffer solutions due to the chemical reaction. It provides great potential for applications in optical multifunctional detection, especially in chemical sensing and biosensing.     

Ice structure monitoring with an optical fiber sensing system

Ice has been used as an effective and economical material for constructions of roads and platforms in cold regions. However, the practical applications of this brittle material are limited by the fact that ice structures can suddenly crack due to low tensile strength, be crushed due to excessive compression, melt and become soften as temperature elevates. In this paper, an early warning system is proposed to monitor the strain state and damage characteristic of ice structures. Firstly, both fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and Brillouin optical time domain analysis/reflectometry (BOTDA/R) sensors were installed in an ice block and an ice beam to understand their axial and flexural behaviors under a concentrated load. Secondly, the solution for strain state and damage process of ice structures was derived analytically under test conditions. Finally, an outdoor ice road test bed was built and continuously monitored for 34 h to validate the early warning system and understand the early stage behavior of ice structures. The experimental results agreed well with their corresponding theoretical predictions. The early warning system with optical sensors is effective and practical for long-term monitoring for ice structures.     

Characterization of microstructured optical fibers for wideband dispersion compensation

Microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) with small hole-to-hole spacing and large airholes are designed to compensate the anomalous dispersion and the dispersion slope of single-mode fibers. The geometrical parameters that characterize triangular MOFs are chosen to optimize the fiber length and the compensation over a wide wavelength range. A proper design of the photonic crystal fiber geometry allows us to achieve dispersion values of approximately -1700 ps nm(-1) km(-1) at 1550 nm and to compensate the dispersion of standard fibers within +/- 0.5 ps nm(-1) km(-1) over a 100-nm range. The MOF dispersion properties have been studied by means of a numerical simulator for modal analysis based on the finite-element method.     

膜片式光纤动态压力传感器的研制

为了更好地满足动态压力的测量需求,研究了一种基于法布里-珀罗（Fabry-Perot,F-P）干涉原理的膜片式光纤动态压力传感器。从理论上分析了多个反射面对F-P腔光谱的影响,提出了得到单一F-P腔的方法。进而采用机械研磨的方式对传感器膜片外表面进行粗化加工,有效解决了由多个反射面带来的光谱复杂问题。对传感器进行静态压力和动态压力标定试验,结果表明：传感器性能良好,在0~200 kPa（表压）范围内的静态压力测量误差小于等于0.5 %FS;在20~2500 Hz范围内,传感器的幅值灵敏度相对误差优于±10%。     

The role of silicon micromachining in optical fiber sensing technologies

Silicon micromachining has the advantage of small scale and easy integration with electronic circuits and sensors, resulting in the production of miniaturized and smart microsystems with moving parts. The size of the microelectromechanical systems/microoptoelectromechanical systems devices is immediately compatible with the size of integrated optics (IOs), and is appropriate to control or manipulate optical radiations. This technology is, therefore, suitable to fabricate precision-defined optical components and offers relatively easy alignment procedures of optical parts. This paper examines the contribution of micromachined structures in the specific context of optical fiber sensing technology. A number of demonstrator sensors will be discussed, with special emphasis on sensors with micromachined IO structures, nanoscale scanning optical microscope sensors, and fiber IO circuits coupling systems.     

Elasto-optics in double-coated optical fibers induced by axial strain and hydrostatic pressure

Stresses, microbending loss, and refractive-index changes induced simultaneously by axial strain and hydrostatic pressure in double-coated optical fibers are analyzed. The lateral pressure and normal stresses in the optical fiber, primary coating, and secondary coating are derived. Also presented are the microbending loss and refractive-index changes in the glass fiber. The normal stresses are affected by axial strain, hydrostatic pressure, material properties, and thickness of the primary and secondary coatings. It is found that microbending loss decreases with increasing thickness, the Young's modulus, and the Poisson's ratio of the secondary coating but increases with the increasing Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the primary coating. Similarly, changes in refractive index in the glass fiber decrease with the increasing Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the secondary coating but increase with the increasing Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the primary coating. Therefore, to minimize microbending loss induced simultaneously by axial strain and hydrostatic pressure in the glass fiber, the polymeric coatings should be suitably selected. An optimal design procedure is also indicated.     

长距离分布式布里渊光纤传感关键技术进展分析

布里渊光纤传感通过光纤中受激布里渊散射效应实现温度和应变测量,具有空间分辨率高、传感距离长和测量精度高等特点,因此分布式布里渊光纤传感成为近年的研究热点。本文通过对长距离分布式布里渊光纤传感研究进展的调研和分析,概括了长距离布里渊传感面临的主要限制因素和解决的关键技术,重点介绍了基于时分复用、频分复用、脉冲编码、宽带频率调制和图像处理算法的长距离布里渊光纤传感技术。随着长距离布里渊光纤传感器的实际工程化,对于快速测量的需求愈发显著,这将是未来长距离布里渊光纤传感的主要研究方向。

     

Optical bandpass filter from a curved segment of a detuned two-core fiber

We present the use of a dual-core fiber as a bandpass filter. Our device is based on the fact that intrinsic detuning between the propagation constants of the two cores can be compensated for in a controlled manner by use of a loop. This compensation is made to occur for a specific frequency band, so that the resulting device acts as a bandpass filter.     

Development of a polarimetric optical fiber sensor for electronicmeasurement of high pressure

The theoretical understanding of the principle of pressure-induced polarization coupling is discussed, and the improved construction, operation, and temperature desensitization of a high-pressure (up to 100 MPa) fiber-optic sensor in two configurations is described. The sensor exploits the effect of polarization coupling between two orthogonally polarized eigenmodes of a highly birefringent, polarization-preserving optical fiber which serves as the sensing element. An idea of temperature desensitization of the sensor output signal is demonstrated. The requirements for an electronic measurement system based on the sensor are discussed, including indentification of the parametric and functional specifications and constraints of such a system