Experimental Investigation on a Fibre-Optic Hydrophone with a Cylindrical Helmholtz Resonator

A novel mechanical anti-aliasing filtering fibre-optic hydrophone with a cylindrical Helmholtz resonator is con- structed and tested. The experimental results show that the hydrophone has a function of low-pass filtering. The low frequency acoustic sensitivity is about -160 dB （1 rad/#Pa）, and the response curve has a resonance deter- mined by the Helmholtz resonator. Theoretical and experimental results both show that the resonant frequency moves towards high frequency with the increasing orifice diameters. The sensitivity attenuation of high frequency is larger than lOdB. This new fibre-optic hydrophone is a prototype device for a class of sensors used to eliminate the aliasing in future sonar systems.     

光放大外腔式光纤法布里-珀罗干涉传感系统

提出了一种大幅度提高外腔式法布里珀罗干涉传感器干涉信号强度的方法 ,利用掺铒光纤放大自发辐射产生的光源代替一般宽带光源 ,同时由于掺铒光纤的放大作用可以放大干涉信号 ,将光纤法布里珀罗传感器的信号强度提高了 4个数量级 ,因而利用该方法可获得很强的信号和较高的信噪比。介绍了基于光放大的外腔式法布里珀罗干涉传感系统的结构、测量原理及实验。实验结果表明该传感器的应变精度为± 10 με,可满足实际应用的要求。该传感系统在大幅度提高传感器信号强度的同时并未提高系统的成本 ,因此有着较高的性价比和实用价值。     

A Novel Extrinsic Fiber-Optic Fabry-Perot Strain Sensor System Based on Optical Amplification

A novel extrinsic fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometric strain sensor system is demonstrated based on the simultaneous use of the amplified spontaneous emission and optical amplification. The improvement of 3～4 orders of magnitude in signal level can be achieved.     

Temperature-Insensitive Fibre-Optic Acceleration Sensor Based on Intensity-Referenced Fibre Bragg Gratings

A temperature-insensitive acceleration sensor using two fibre Bragg gratings （FBGs）, based on reflection spectrum intensity modulation and optical power detection, is proposed and demonstrated. A cantilever beam is used to generate acceleration-induced axial strain along two sensing gratings, which are glued on the two opposite surfaces of the beam. Because the two gratings operate within the linear spectral range of a light source, formed by a thermally-tunable extrinsic Fabry-Perot optical filter, the intensity difference of the two reflections from the gratings is proportional to the acceleration applied. This eliminates the need for sophisticated wavelength interrogation of the gratings, and it also endows the sensor with immunity to temperature variation. Compared with a commercial micromachined accelerometer, the sensor is proven to be capable of accurately detecting acceleration.     

Long-period fiber-gratings produced by exposure with a low-pressure mercury lamp and their sensing characteristics

A new production method of long-period fiber-gratings using neither a laser nor a fine-positioning system was proposed. A low-pressure mercury lamp emitting 254 nm ultraviolet light was used as a light source. Hydrogen-loaded Ge-B co-doped fiber was exposed to the emission of the lamp through an amplitude mask. A coupling loss up to 23 dB was obtained for a grating period of 212 μm. The maximum coupling loss for a grating period of 460 μm was 18 dB. The growth rate of the refractive index change by mercury-lamp exposure was 1.3 × 10⁻⁴/h. The temperature and strain characteristics were measured and compared with those fabricated by excimer-laser exposure. The temperature and strain sensitivities of long-period gratings with a period of 212 μm were higher than those of 460 μm. The temperature and strain sensitivities of those by mercury-lamp exposure were almost equal to those by excimer-laser exposure of the same fiber. The sensitivities of those by excimer-laser exposure of non-loaded fiber were higher than those of hydrogen-loaded fiber by mercury-lamp or excimer-laser exposures except for the temperature sensitivity of a grating period of 460 μm.     

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature using dual-period grapefruit microstructured fiber grating

By cascading the long period fiber grating (LPFG) and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) in grapefruit microstructured fiber, a novel dual-period fiber grating sensor is proposed. The refractive index and temperature are measured simultaneously by using the different sensitivity of FBG and LPFG. The relationship between dual-period fiber grating transmission spectrum and refractive index, resonant wavelengths and temperature are analyzed theoretically, respectively. The simulation results show that the accuracy of the sensor in measuring refractive index and temperature is estimated to be 2319.6 nm/RIU in a range from 1.33 to 1.36 and 0.017 nm/°C from 0 °C to 100 °C, respectively. Thus, the sensor has high refractive index sensitivity, and can provide the theoretical foundation for the optical fiber biosensor.     

All-optical switch and limiter based on nonlinear polarization in Mach-Zehnder interferometer coupled with a polarization-maintaining fiber-ring resonator

A novel all-optical switch based on nonlinear polarization mechanism using polarization-maintaining fiber ring with a polarization rotator is proposed. Optical switching with low threshold of mW order and optical limiting with broader limiting range, less fluctuation, higher damage threshold and response speed are demonstrated numerically. The deterioration of switching and the improvement of limiting originating from losses are also studied. Considering the tradeoff between switching power and bandwidth, the way to increase bandwidth is discussed.     

Fluid Sensor Based on Transmission Dip Caused by Mini Stop-Band in Photonic Crystal Slab

We propose a fluid sensor based on transmission dip caused by mini stop-band in photonic crystal slabs. Simulation results show that this novel type of sensors has large detective range （more than 1.5） and relative high sensitivity （4.3×10^-5 in certain conditions）. The central frequency and bandwidth of the mini stop-bands depend on the structure parameters of PC waveguides, which makes it possible to optimize the detective range and detective sensitivity.     

Displacement-noise-free gravitational-wave detection with two Fabry-Perot cavities

We propose two detuned Fabry-Perot cavities, each pumped through both the mirrors, positioned in line as a toy model of the gravitational-wave (GW) detector free from displacement noise of the test masses. It is demonstrated that the noise of cavity mirrors can be completely excluded in a proper linear combination of the cavities output signals. This model is illustrated by a simplified round trip model (without Fabry-Perot cavities). We show that in low-frequency region the obtained displacement-noise-free response signal is stronger than the one of the interferometer recently proposed by S. Kawamura and Y. Chen.     

基于光传输矩阵方法对EFFP传感器的参数优化研究

为研究光纤法珀传感器中法珀腔结构参数对其条纹对比度的影响,基于光传输矩阵方法,建立了描述非本征型光纤法珀干涉结构中光束传播特性的理论模型。以基于化学腐蚀渐变多模折射率光纤方法制作而成的光纤法珀传感器为例,进行了数值模拟。由模拟结果可以得出,腔长为40μm、曲率半径在85～115μm范围内可以获得较高的条纹对比度。其结果表明,通过优化法珀腔的腔长和形状可以改善光纤法珀传感器反射光谱的条纹对比度。     

Displacement-noise-free gravitational-wave detection with a single Fabry-Perot cavity: A toy model

We propose a detuned Fabry-Perot cavity, pumped through both the mirrors, as a toy model of the gravitational-wave (GW) detector partially free from displacement noise of the test masses. It is demonstrated that the noise of cavity mirrors can be eliminated, but the one of lasers and detectors cannot. The isolation of the GW signal from displacement noise of the mirrors is achieved in a proper linear combination of the cavity output signals. The construction of such a linear combination is possible due to the difference between the reflected and transmitted output signals of detuned cavity. We demonstrate that in low-frequency region the obtained displacement-noise-free response signal is much stronger than the -limited sensitivity of displacement-noise-free interferometers recently proposed by S. Kawamura and Y. Chen. However, the loss of the resonant gain in the noise cancelation procedure results is the sensitivity limitation of our toy model by displacement noise of lasers and detectors.     

Recent Progress in Multiparameter Measurement Based on Extrinsic Fiber-Optic Fabry-Perot Interferometers and Fiber Gratings

This paper presents a review of recent progress in simultaneous measurement of multiparameters including strain, temperature, vibration, transverse load, based on the combinations of extrinsic fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometers and fiber gratings.     

Temperature and pressure sensitivities of the highly birefringent photonic crystal fiber with core asymmetry

We investigated a particular design of a highly birefringent PCF with attractive features for pressure sensing applications. A plane-wave method together with the finite element method were used to numerically calculate phase and group modal birefringence, pressure and temperature sensitivities of our fiber. The simulation results together with the experiments demonstrate a considerable difference between a very high phase birefringence (B ∼ 10⁻³) and a very low negative group birefringence (G −10⁻³). Our fiber exhibits a low and positive temperature sensitivity (K_T < 0.1 rad/(K⋅m)), and relatively high and negative mechanical (pressure) sensitivity (K_p ≤ −10 rad/(MPa⋅m)), which supports its possible use as a mechanical sensor that does not require any temperature compensation.     

A Distributed Fibre Bragg Grating Sensor Interrogator Employing a Reformative Arrayed Waveguide Grating

We present an interrogating technique employing a reformative arrayed waveguide grating without output waveguides in combination with a linear charge coupled device. A simple and effective data processing method called area equalized point is used to improve the system resolution. The simulation results show that the wavelength shift of a fibre Bragg grating with temperature can be precisely measured by this interrogation technique. The temperature accuracy and wavelength resolution of the sensor system are smaller than 0.08℃ and 0.8pm, respectively. If the FBG 3dB-bandwidth is 0.2nm with the wavelength spacing between two adjacent FBGs of 1.4 nm, the temperature and wavelength errors caused by crosstalk are respectively 0.01℃ and 0. 1 pm.     

Characteristics of side-polished thermally expanded core fiber and its application as a band-edge filter with a high cut-off property

Characteristics of the side-polished thermally expanded core (TEC) fiber have been investigated theoretically and experimentally. The effect of core expanding on the transmission of the side-polished TEC fiber is predicted theoretically and demonstrated experimentally. The side-polished TEC fiber covered with an external medium whose chromatic dispersion is much different from the fiber materials, is applied to a band-edge filter with a high cut-off. The relationship between the expanded core diameter and the performance of the band-edge filter was measured and discussed.     

High Power Er/Yb Codoped Double Clad Fiber Pulsed Amplifier Based on an All-Fiber Configuration

We report an all-fiber two-stage high power pulsed amplifier, seeded with a 1550nm, 1 kHz repetition rate rectangular pulse, and based on Er/Yb co-doped double clad fiber. All the characteristics are measured in the experiment. The maximal slope efficiency is 22.56%, which is the highest we know of at such a low repetition rate, and the maximal output signal power is 1W. The various factors that affect the pulsed amplifier performance are analyzed. A high output power while keeping high power conversion efficiency can be obtained with careful selection of the input power, pump power and repetition rate. The experimental results show that the crucial parameters should be optimized when designing all-fiber pulsed amplifiers.     

Liquid crystal enabled multi-channel power equalizer and stabilizer

Automatic power equalization and stabilization of a liquid crystal enabled channel-selectable optical demultiplexer is demonstrated. The variation among output signals from different channels was reduced from ∼10 dB to 0.15 dB with feedback control. The minimum ripple level of a single channel is ∼0.05 dB. As a variable optical attenuator (VOA), the attenuation range of the device is ∼12.6 dB.     

基于非本征Fabry-Perot腔光纤液位传感器研究

介绍了适用于液位测量的强度型非本征法布里-珀罗（F-P）腔光纤液位传感器的结构设计及其性能.实验观察到F-P腔具有良好的多周期输出特性和局部的线性特性,选用局部的1/4周期输出线性段作为线性工作区间可对液位进行高准确度、连续性测量.恰当选择敏感组件的尺寸可设计不同量程的传感器.实验结果表明,传感器测量3.5 m水位时,精确度为±2 mm,最小分辨率为1 mm.     

Determining large step heights using zero-order interference fringe identification and an external cavity diode laser

Zero-order interference fringe identification is a powerful tool for measuring large step heights. In contrast to white light scanning interferometry, this study utilizes an external cavity diode laser as the light source. The zero-path difference point can be accurately identified by combining wavelength scanning interferometry, in which the laser wavelength is continuously changed, with single wavelength interferometry, in which the laser wavelength is fixed. The experimental apparatus is a two-arm interferometer containing the sample in the measurement arm. The step height denotes the distance between two locations of a zero-order interference fringe, which are obtained by continuously varying the length of the reference arm. The accuracy of a sample of 10 mm step height was found to be 0.33 μm.     

Consideration and compensation of calibration falloff for optical flying height measurement

In sub-10 nm low flying height (FH) region, system calibration is a significant challenge to achieve precise FH measurement. Unloading calibration mechanism is utilized for every FH measurement using three-wavelength interferometry. Our experiment has shown that the cutoff frequency of photodetectors and the bandwidth of optical filters induce calibration falloff during the calibration process. As a result, the FH measured is underestimated, i.e., the FH measured is lower than its true value. In this paper, mathematical models are proposed to eliminate the side effects due to the bandwidth of optical filters and the cutoff frequency of photodetectors. Results indicate that the proposed compensation schemes are effective in terms of improving the calibration accuracy.