Cascaded SOA configuration for NRZ-OOK to RZ-QPSK format conversion

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an all-optical format conversion from two independent non-return-to-zero on-off keying (NRZ-OOK) signals to a return-to-zero quadrature phase shift keying (RZ-QPSK) signal using two cascaded SOAs. Within each SOA, the cross phase modulation (XPM) process is properly controlled by an assistant light. After evaluating its effect on XPM, a suitable power range of assistant light is chosen for the NRZ-OOK to RZ-QPSK format conversion. In the experiment, a RZ-QPSK signal is successfully obtained with opened demodulation eye-diagrams.     

Simultaneous implementation of all-optical OR and AND logic gates for NRZ/RZ/CSRZ ON-OFF-keying signals

An all-optical scheme for simultaneously realizing OR and AND logic gates based on three-input four-wave mixing (FWM) arising in a single semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is proposed and demonstrated. It has the ability to process not only conventional non-return-to-zero-ON-OFF-keying (NRZ-OOK) and return-to-zero-OOK (RZ-OOK) formats but also carrier-suppressed return-to-zero-OOK (CSRZ-OOK) format signals. Firstly, the performance of 40 Gb/s logic operation is numerically evaluated by a comprehensive dynamic SOA model considering three input signal induced FWM effect. Then, 10 Gb/s experimental demonstrations with clear waveforms and high extinction ratios (ERs) further verify the logic integrity of this scheme. Thus, the OR and AND logic gates simultaneously achieved within a single logic unit is compact and cost-effective for future optical signal processing applications.     

All-optical RZ-OOK to RZ-BPSK conversion with multicasting based on XPM in highly nonlinear fiber

We present a detailed investigation of all-optical RZ-OOK to RZ-BPSK modulation format conversion at 10 Gb/s using cross-phase modulation in a length of highly nonlinear fiber. In particular, we examine the impact of the input RZ-OOK signal characteristics, such as duty cycle, average (peak) power, optical signal to noise ratio, and degradation from residual dispersion and differential group delay on the BER performance of the converted RZ-BPSK signal. We also present results on RZ-OOK to RZ-BPSK modulation format conversion with wavelength multicasting.     

All-optical clock extraction from 10-Gbit/s NRZ-DPSK data using modal interference in a two-mode fiber

All-optical clock extraction from a 10-Gbit/s NRZ-DPSK input signal is demonstrated using modal interference in a two-mode fiber (TMF) and a mode-locked fiber ring laser. The TMF has a Mach-Zehnder configuration with two arms along the core and cladding regions. Using the difference in propagation delay between two arms, the non-return-to-zero differential phase shift keying (NRZ-DPSK) signal is converted to the return-to-zero on-off keying (RZ-OOK) signal. To obtain repetitive pulses as a clock signal from the RZ-OOK signal, a ring laser with a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is used. Subsequently, the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the RZ-OOK and clock signals are enhanced up to 30 dB and 40 dB, respectively, compared to that of the original NRZ-DPSK signal. Also, the clock signal centered at 10 GHz has a low timing jitter of <1.6 ps. It is expected that this method can be applied to high speed fiber-optic systems of >10 Gbit/s due to its small time delay between the core and cladding regions.     

光纤布喇格光栅作为增益均衡器的掺铒光纤EDFA放大器

采用平均反转率模型分析了带光纤布喇格光栅的增益平坦掺铒光纤放大器,其输出增益可由一组耦合超越方程描述,而非耦合微分方程,同时讨论了用于增益平坦的布喇格光栅的最佳位置设计作为增益建模和最佳设计实例,对于输入功率0.5mW位于1545～1552nm的8个波长信道,得到的输出增益不平坦度小于0.05dB.最后还证实了布喇格光栅作为增益均衡器具有高输出功率和功率转换效率的优越性.     

All-optical regeneration of polarization division multiplexing signals in polarization nonlinear loop mirror

All-optical regeneration of 2 × 10-Gb/s RZ-OOK polarization-division-multiplexed (PDM) signals is demonstrated through a single polarization nonlinear loop mirror configuration. PDM signals with orthogonal polarization states are regenerated simultaneously and reassembled automatically. Up to 3.0-dB eye-diagram-based signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) improvement is achieved for both channels with the input SNR of 6.7 dB. Such scheme is also capable of mitigating the polarization-mode-dispersion (PMD) effect for PDM signals in the presence of up to 6.3-ps DGD.     

Comparisons of RZ-OOK and RZ-DPSK in dense OTDM-WDM systems using Q factor models

In view of the differential phase Q (DP-Q) and the traditional Q factor, we compared, using numerical simulations, the performances of the RZ-OOK and RZ-DPSK in dense OTDM-WDM systems. When signal pulse widths and optical filter bandwidths are optimized, there is no upper limit to the WDM channel bit rate (BR) in the purely linear back-to-back configuration. Here, RZ-DPSK performed increasingly better than RZ-OOK in a higher spectral density with Q gain increasing from 3 to 5 dB. In the nonlinear point-to-point configuration, a higher BR leads to increased performance penalties for both the RZ-DPSK and RZ-OOK, while the RZ-DPSK still outperforms RZ-OOK by up to 4 dB. The results obtained correlate with conventional results, indicating the potential of the DP-Q as a performance evaluation tool in numerical simulations.     

Interrogation technique for a fiber Bragg grating sensing array based on a Sagnac interferometer and an acousto-optic modulator

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel real-time interrogation technique for a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing system that is based on a frequency-shifted asymmetric Sagnac interferometer. FBG sensors are connected to the Sagnac loop by an optical coupler, and an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is asymmetrically placed in the Sagnac loop. By linearly sweeping the driving frequency of the AOM, the environmental variation around each FBG sensor can be determined by measuring the spectrum of the interference signals of the two counterpropagating light beams reflected by the corresponding FBG. The system has the advantages of low cost and real-time sensing.     

Characterization of ROF signal based on cascaded optical carrier suppression modulation technique

The paper experimentally demonstrated the optical frequency quadrupling microwave signal generation, a 4 GHz radio frequency (RF) signals up-conversion to 16 GHz in a radio over fiber (ROF) link, using twice optical carrier suppression modulation. The RF signal was mixed with 1.25 Gbps NRZ-OOK data firstly and then modulated by two cascaded single-electrode optical intensity modulators. The obtained 1.25 Gbps/16 GHz ROF signal was transmitted and characterized in the optical fiber link. At BER of 10^?9, low power penalty of 1.0 and 1.4 dB were obtained over a fiber link with a transmission distance of 25 and 50 km.     

Intensity-modulated fiber Bragg grating sensor system based on radio-frequency signal measurement

An intensity-modulated, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor system based on radio-frequency (RF) signal measurement is presented. The RF signal is generated at a photodetector by two modulated optical signals reflected from the sensing FBG and a reference FBG. Wavelength shift of the sensing FBG changes intensity of the RF signal through changing the delay between the two optical signals, with temperature effect being compensated automatically by the reference FBG. It also exhibits important features including potentially high-speed measurement, low cost, and adjustable sensitivity. In the experiment, strain measurement with a maximum sensitivity of -0.34 microV/micro epsilon has been achieved.     

光纤光栅振动传感匹配检测方法的研究

介绍了用匹配光纤布拉格光栅（FBG）对振动传感进行直接的光强调制，从而完成传感及解调过程的方法，首先从理论上推导了光纤光栅的反射，透射谱的表达式，对光纤光栅的传感机制给出了定性的解释，并建立了数学模型进行模拟，进而报道了利用匹配光纤光栅进行单点解调，将振动传感信号变为解调光栅的输出光强信号，从而进行检测的方法，实验结果与理论吻合得很好，证明该方法是可行的。     

XPM-induced intensity distortion due to dispersion in fibre Bragg grating filters

We investigate the conversion of cross-phase modulation (XPM) to intensity distortion due to dispersion in fibre Bragg grating (FBG) filters. We find that there can be significant XPM-induced intensity distortion, especially near the edges of the filter passband where the in-band dispersion is increasingly pronounced. Since FBG filter dispersion occurs above and beyond that in standard single-mode fibre, this enhances XPM-induced intensity distortion arising from dispersion and should be accounted for in system design.     

分布式反馈激光器动态扫描光纤布拉格光栅波长解调系统

通过对该系统采集到的法布里-珀罗(F-P)标准具透射谱和光纤布拉格光栅(FBG)传感器反射谱进行寻峰算法以及拟合算法的研究,采用C语言编程和LabVIEW编程相结合的方式,实现了FBG波长信号的解调。其中,由于系统采集到的F-P透射谱和FBG反射谱线时域信号数据都由离散点构成,且在3dB带宽内均符合高斯曲线分布,采用高斯拟合对采集到的信号数据进行寻峰处理,提高系统精度;又由于分布式反馈(DFB)激光器的波长扫描存在着一定的非线性,采用二项式拟合对DFB激光器的波长扫描曲线进行拟合,以降低其非线性导致的误差。另外,设置一路标准FBG传感通道用于波长校准。实验研究表明该系统稳定性良好,波长测量范围为1 550.012~1 554.812nm,分辨力为1pm,精度为±10pm,验证了该系统可用于FBG波长信号检测的可行性。     

Acousto-ultrasonic sensing for delaminated GFRP composites using an embedded FBG sensor

In this paper, an active damage detection system for composite laminates is introduced. A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) was employed as an embedded sensor for detecting ultrasonic Lamb wave generated by a piezoelectric (PZT) actuator, inside the laminates. There were two different configurations for the system, making use of a broadband light source and a laser source, respectively. It was found that the use of a laser source could provide a higher sensitivity, so it was preferred in an ultrasonic signal acquisition unit for damage detection. When a delamination is developed in composite structures, the propagation characteristics of Lamb wave is then changed. According to altered signals, the types and natures of delamination inside the structures can be evaluated. In this experiment, glass fiber-reinforced epoxy (GFRP) composite beams were used to study the feasibility of our proposed detection technique. FBG sensors were embedded in different layers of the composite beams. The responses of FBG sensors from both intact and delaminated composite beams were then compared. Finally, the acquired Lamb wave signals corresponding to different delamination sizes and locations were examined.     

Application of optical time-domain reflectometry for the interrogation of fiber Bragg sensors

A reflectometric approach is proposed for the polling and multiplexing of sensitive elements on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The method is based on the power measurement of the radiation reflected by the FBG using a conventional fiber-optic time-domain reflectometer. The multiplexing of sensors is based on the time separation of signals. Requirements on the Bragg diffraction gratings that provide the linear dependence of the received signal on the FBG mechanical stress and temperature are determined. In the measurements of the FBG relative elongation and temperature, the threshold sensitivities are 0.8 × 10^?4 (80 μstrain) and 5°C, respectively. Due to its simplicity and efficiency, the reflectometric method of FBG polling and multiplexing can be used to solve various measurement problems, in particular, the safety monitoring of the stressed-strained elements in building structures.     

Long-distance fiber Bragg grating sensor system with a high optical signal-to-noise ratio based on a tunable fiber ring laser configuration

A novel tunable fiber ring laser configuration with a combination of bidirectional Raman amplification and dual erbium-doped fiber (EDF) amplification is proposed for realizing high optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), long-distance, quasi-distributed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing systems with large capacities and low cost. The hybrid Raman-EDF amplification configuration arranged in the ring laser can enhance the optical SNR of FBG sensor signals significantly owing to the good combination of the high gain of the erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and the low noise of the Raman amplification. Such a sensing system can support a large number of FBG sensors because of the use of a tunable fiber Fabry-Perot filter located within the ring laser and spatial division multiplexing for expansion of sensor channels. Experimental results show that an excellent optical SNR of approximately 60 dB has been achieved for a 50 km transmission distance with a low Raman pump power of approximately 170 mW at a wavelength of 1455 nm and a low EDFA pump power of approximately 40 mW at a wavelength of 980 nm, which is the highest optical SNR achieved so far for a 50 km long FBG sensor system, to our knowledge.     

Parallel demodulation system and signal-processing method 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 that is based on a Michelson interferometer and combines the methods of low-coherence interference and Fourier transform spectrum. Signals from EFPI and FBG sensors are obtained simultaneously by scanning one arm of a Michelson interferometer, and an algorithm model is established to process the signals and retrieve both the wavelength of the FBG and the cavity length of the EFPI at the same time, which are then used to determine the strain and temperature.     

基于色散调谐宽带扫频光纤激光器及其在光纤光栅解调中的应用

报道了一种基于色散调谐技术的宽带扫频掺铒光纤激光器。通过在主动锁模光纤激光器腔内引入较大色散,利用锯齿波电信号调制电光调制器的调制频率,可以实现激光器扫频输出。应用扫频激光器可将光纤光栅反射中心波长的变化转变为时域上信号间隔变化,适用于光纤光栅传感解调。搭建了扫频光纤激光器,利用掺铒光纤作为增益介质,研究了扫频范围的影响因素。通过优化实验参数,实验得到的扫频带宽达到43 nm,接近增益带宽,扫频速度为50 Hz。利用搭建的扫频激光器进行了光纤光栅传感解调,灵敏度约为0.68 ms/nm,验证了解调原理。     

Combined time-wavelength interrogation of fiber-Bragg gratings based on an optical time-domain reflectometry

A reflectometric method for the combined time-wavelength multiplexing of the fiber-Bragg-grating (FBG) signals is proposed. The method is based on the spectral filtering of the probe pulses generated by a fiber-optic reflectometer using a bandpass filter consisting of a fiber circulator and FBG. The interrogated Bragg gratings are recorded on a fiber line in groups with identical resonance wavelengths inside groups and different wavelengths from different groups. The separation of the signals of FBGs that have different resonance wavelengths is due to the tuning of the filter passband, and the separation of the signals of FBGs with identical wavelengths involves the time separation of the responses of the Bragg gratings to the probe pulse. The threshold sensitivity of the method in the measurement of the relative elongation of FBG is 0.5 × 10^?4. The considerable practical prospects of the method are related to its simplicity, reliability, and the application of the conventional reflectometric equipment.     

光纤光栅多传感器复用的成象光谱技术

本文根据光纤光栅多传感器复用时信号的光谱特征,提出了采用成象光谱技术对复用信号进行解调的方案.文章推导分析了该复用方案的有关参量及特性,并进行了验证实验,获得了与计算结果吻合的实验结果.