Optical Fiber Sensor Technology in Portugal

A general overview of the R&D activity in fiber optic sensing developed over the last fifteen years in Portugal is given. Different topics are addressed, including interferometric, intensity and Bragg grating based fiber optic sensors, signal processing and multiplexing techniques, optical current sensors, together with some references to field trials and applications. Possible guidelines for present and future national R&D activity on this subject are outlined.     

Optical fiber sensors

Abstract

Fiber optic sensors are finding increased usage in aerospace guidance and control applications due to their light weight, immunity to electromagnetic interference, high bandwidth and sensitivity, and solid-state, all-passive nature. This article reviews fiber optic sensors, with particular emphasis on aerospace applications.     

Photonic Engineering Group of the University of Cantabria: Recent R&D Contributions in Photonic Sensing Technology

The recent research and development results of the Photonic Engineering Group in the photonic sensing field are reported. This article includes a sample of contributions in several of the ongoing R&D lines: fiber sensing using Bragg grating technology; gas sensing, high temperature monitoring; optoelectronic instrumentation for laser welding monitoring; fiber active devices; and, finally, on sensing technology using plastic optical fiber.     

基于光谱吸收型光纤传感器的煤矿瓦斯测量技术

甲烷是瓦斯的主要成分,是易燃易爆的气体。介绍了瓦斯的光谱特性以及光谱吸收法测量甲烷气体浓度的原理,给出了光谱吸收型光纤瓦斯气体传感器的主要进展和技术路径,包括差分吸收测量法和谐波吸收测量法。通过分析可看出,光谱吸收型光纤瓦斯传感器以其优良的特性得到了广泛关注,其中差分吸收法的抗干扰能力强,系统可靠性高,具有较强的工程应用价值。     

Smart City Surveillance Through Low-Cost Fiber Sensors in Metropolitan Optical Networks

Abstract

A continuously growing number of municipalities has optical fiber networks supporting communications at their disposal. These fiber installations can also be utilized to convey low data optical signals from a large number of deployed sensing elements, usually positioned in critical infrastructure locations, providing a variety of useful information. Such information can be used in the context of a “smart city” to provide citizens with higher-level services or even to proactively ensure public security and safety. This work demonstrates a fiber sensing network based on low-cost fiber Bragg grating sensors that are able to appropriately oversee diverse monitoring parameters.     

Characterization of Encapsulating Materials for Fiber Bragg Grating-Based Temperature Sensors

Abstract

An experimental study has been carried out for the characterization of encapsulating materials for fiber Bragg grating-based temperature sensors to prevent the formation of micro-cracks and devitrification on the fiber surface at elevated temperatures by making use of a rigid probe. The developed sensor probe was configured by encapsulating a type 1 fiber Bragg grating with an aluminum nitride tube and is used to measure temperatures from 20°C to 500°C. The adapted encapsulation technique validated the sensor to achieve linearity of 99.979%, sensitivity of 14.03 ± 0.02 pm/°C, and good repeatability; its practical use in harsh environments is predicted.     

Optical fiber sensor-based detection of partial discharges in power transformers

In this paper, a fiber optic acoustic sensor system is designed and tested for on-line detection of the partial discharges inside high voltage power transformers. The fiber optic sensor uses a silica diaphragm and a single mode optical fiber encapsulated in a silica glass tube to form an extrinsic Fabry–Perot interferometer. Test results indicate that the developed fiber optic sensors are capable of detecting the acoustic signals propagating inside the transformer oil with high resolution and high frequency.     

椭芯光纤干涉型多参量光纤传感技术

本文提出用椭圆纤芯高双折射光纤偏振干涉和双模干涉结合的双技术四参量以及双模干涉多参量同时测量的传感理论和实验原理，对交叉灵敏度作了分析，同时给出了误差分析，并结合理论模型对灵敏度矩阵的状态作了粗略估计。初步结果为：（１）灵敏度矩阵条件数不太大，可以采用迭代改善方法解线性方程组得到较好的解；（２）双模干涉传感器的灵敏度比偏振干涉传感器的灵敏度高两个数量级。     

Thermo-Optical Effects and Fiber Optic Sensing Device Based on Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals

In this article, the thermo-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in confined geometry are experimentally investigated to demonstrate the feasibility of a fiber optic sensing device based on PDLCs.

Since an unexpected behavior of PDLCs in confined geometry has been experienced, a systematic study of PDLCs' thermo-optical properties in bulk is presented also to point out principal differences. Finally, bistable all fiber optic temperature sensors, in which a PDLC permits at the same time the opto-mechanical interconnection of two fibers and the modulation of light crossing the device, has been realized and characterized, for the first time. Being the modulation controlled by external temperature, the device has been proven to be suitable for the realization of a heat flow sensor. The sensor presents the typical advantages of both fiber optic sensors and liquid crystal technology.

Moreover, due to its small thermal capacity, it should exhibit little influence on thermal equilibrium and, above all, it represents a significant improvement compared to a temperature fiber optic sensor based on liquid crystals (presented in the literature).     

Optical fiber sensors

Fiber optic sensors are finding increased usage in aerospace guidance and control applications due to their light weight, immunity to electromagnetic interference, high bandwidth and sensitivity, and solid-state, all-passive nature. This article reviews fiber optic sensors, with particular emphasis on aerospace applications.     

表面等离子体波光纤传感器应用于复合材料固化监测的研究

对适用于机敏结构的表面等离子体波光纤传感器进行了初步的研究。将这种光纤传感器埋入复合材料结构就构成了所谓机敏结构。这种机敏结构既可进行复合材料的固化监测,又可进行应变检测。有利于传感器数量的减少和布置的简化,减少了传感元件的埋入对结构本身性能的影响。可以充分发挥光纤传感器对结构进行全过程监测的优点,具有广泛的应用前景。     

Microwave Photonics for High-Resolution and High-Speed Interrogation of Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors

Abstract

Conventional fiber Bragg grating sensors have a few limitations, such as limited interrogation resolution and speed and difficulty in separating different measurands. In this article, microwave photonic techniques applied to fiber Bragg grating sensors to improve the interrogation resolution and speed are discussed. Experimental results to validate the techniques are provided.     

Luminescence-Based Optical Fiber Chemical Sensors

Abstract

A scheme for the simultaneous determination of temperature and analyte concentration for application in luminescence-based chemical sensors is proposed. This scheme is applied to an optical oxygen sensor, which is based on the quenching of the fluorescence of a ruthenium complex. Temperature measurement is performed using the excitation radiation and an absorption long-pass filter. Preliminary results are presented that show the viability of an oxygen measurement that is independent of temperature and optical power level. The possibility of self-referenced temperature measurements with semiconductor nanoparticles is also investigated. In order to optimize the sensor design, several different optical fiber probe geometries for oxygen sensing are tested and compared, including different methods of coupling radiation into the optical fiber system. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylamide membranes are tested as supports for sensor immobilization in fiber-optical pH sensing devices in aqueous solution. Some results are presented that show the feasibility of using fiber-optical pH indicators for remote monitoring.     

微结构光纤传感器设计的新进展

根据导光机理、微孔分布、介质载入、纤芯数量及对称性等因素,对微结构光纤进行了具体分类。在此基础上,阐述了微结构光纤传感器的结构设计方法。对近年来国内外(包括作者设计)的典型微结构光纤传感器和微结构光纤光栅传感器进行了详细介绍和综合评述,对基于微结构光纤及微结构光纤光栅的新型传感器的发展进行了展望。     

微结构光纤传感器设计的新进展

根据导光机理、微孔分布、介质载入、纤芯数量及对称性等因素,对微结构光纤进行了具体分类。在此基础上,阐述了微结构光纤传感器的结构设计方法。对近年来国内外(包括作者设计)的典型微结构光纤传感器和微结构光纤光栅传感器进行了详细介绍和综合评述,对基于微结构光纤及微结构光纤光栅的新型传感器的发展进行了展望。     

用于接触式探测的多模光纤探针形状优化

对于进行接触式探测的多模光纤探针,信号光来自于附着于探针表面的待测物。基于几何光学,提出了一个物理模型,用以分析探头形状对所收集的信号光强度的影响。采用此模型,对抛物线型探头进行了仿真,给出了最优形状参数,并采用表面增强拉曼探针进行了初步实验验证。此分析可用于指导各种光纤传感器的设计,以确定其最佳的形状参数,适用于荧光传感器、表面等离子体共振传感器、表面增强拉曼传感器等。     

Performance comparison of slow‐light coupled‐resonator optical gyroscopes

We investigate the connection between group velocity and rotation sensitivity in a number of resonant gyroscope designs. Two key comparisons are made. First, we compare two conventional sensors, namely a resonant fiber optic gyroscope (RFOG) and an interferometric fiber optic gyroscope (FOG). Second, we compare the RFOG to several recently proposed coupled‐resonator optical waveguide (CROW) gyroscopes. We show that the relationship between loss and maximum rotation sensitivity is the same for both conventional and CROW gyroscopes. Thus, coupling multiple resonators together cannot enhance rotation sensitivity. While CROW gyroscopes offer the potential for large group indices, this increase of group index does not provide a corresponding increase in the maximum sensitivity to rotation. For a given footprint and a given total loss, the highest sensitivity is shown to be achieved either in a conventional RFOG utilizing a single resonator, or a conventional FOG.     

分立式与分布式光纤传感关键技术研究进展

光纤传感技术已广泛应用于航空航天、石油化工、电子电力、土木工程、生物医药等领域,其技术形式主要体现为分立式和分布式.分立式光纤传感技术利用光纤敏感器件作为传感器来感知被测参量的变化,光纤作为光信号的传输通道连接光纤传感器及后端的解调装置;分布式光纤传感系统基于光纤瑞利散射、拉曼散射或布里渊散射等光学效应,利用光纤本身作为传感器,可对沿途的光信号进行大范围、长距离传感.本文介绍了分立式与分布式光纤传感中主要关键技术的研究进展,并对未来的研究和发展方向进行了探讨.     

Coupling-Wave Structures for Optical Waveguide Sensors

An optical waveguide sensor structure, i.e. a coupling-wave structure, is presented and analyzed on the basis of a codirectional coupler. Potential uses for absorption-and fluorescence based sensors are theoretically explained by the group index method (D.-K. Qing, X-.M-. Chen, K. Itoh, M. Murabayashi: J. Lightwave Technol. 14 (1996) 1907). Refractive-index-based sensors were also analyzed. An actual coupling-wave structure was realized by combining the ion-exchange and the sol-gel methods. The coupling-wave structure that provides effective sensing interaction is easy to fabricate and can be used to realize optical waveguide chemical or biological sensors.     

New developments of the R&;D silicon tracking for linear collider on silicon trackers

The status of the R&D activity achieved so far within the SiLC (silicon tracking for the linear collider) collaboration is reported here. It includes the following items: present status of the collaboration, new developments on sensors, on mechanics (new directions for module construction, large support structure, cooling, and alignment and integration issues), new lab test bench results on electronics and sensors. The perspectives over a period of four years are presented with a detailed test beam schedule and the roadmap including the construction of new mechanical prototypes equipped with front end and readout chips in deep sub-micron CMOS technology are discussed. Combined tests with other sub-detectors are finally addressed. This test beam program is inserted in the framework of the EUDET European project. on behalf of the SiLC R&D Collaboration