Simultaneous distributed acoustic and temperature sensing system based on ultra-weak chirped fiber Bragg grating array.

The quasi-static temperature and dynamic acoustic signals based on ultra-weak chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG) array is proposed and experimentally demonstrated, which can be employed to detect distributed acoustic and temperature signals simultaneously. Distributed temperature sensing (DTS) was realized by cross-correlation operation to measure the spectral drift of each CFBG, and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) was achieved by gauging the phase difference between adjacent CFBG. Using CFBG as the sensor unit can protect acoustic signals from the fluctuations and drifts induced by temperature change without deterioration of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Applying least square mean adaptive filter (AF) can enhance harmonic frequency suppression ratio and increase the SNR of system. In the proof-of-concept experiment the SNR of acoustic signal is higher than 100 dB after the digital filter and frequency response is from 2 Hz to 1.25 kHz with repetition frequency of laser pulses of 10 kHz. Temperature measurement from 30°C to 100°C is achieved with demodulation accuracy of ±0.8°C. The spatial resolution (SR) of two-parameter sensing is 5 m.

Large-capacity and long-distance distributed acoustic sensing based on an ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating array with an optimized pulsed optical power arrangement.

A large-capacity, long-distance distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system without inline optical amplification was proposed and experimentally demonstrated using an ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating (UWFBG) array and coherent detection. The effect of the finite extinction ratio of an acousto-optic modulator and the Stokes signal of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in UWFBGs on the performance of DAS was simulated and revealed. A high extinction ratio and a balanced input pulsed optical power can improve the capacity and distance of the DAS. The dynamic acoustic signal can be well reconstructed for a serial array of 10828 near-identical UWFBG with a length of 54.14 km. An acoustic signal sensitivity of 189.54 pɛ/√Hz and a signal SNR of 40.01 dB with a spatial resolution of 5 m can be achieved at the far end.

Opto-Mechatronics System for Train-Track Micro Deformation Sensing.

In this paper, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated an opto-mechatronics system to detect the micro-deformation of tracks caused by running trains. The fiber Bragg grating (FBG) array acting as sensing elements has a low peak reflectivity of around -40 dB. The center wavelengths were designed to alternate between 1551 nm and 1553 nm at 25 °C. Based on dual-wavelength, wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)/time-division multiplexing (TDM) hybrid networking, we adopted optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) technology and a wavelength-scanning interrogation method to achieve FBG array signal demodulation. The field experimental results showed that the average wavelength shift of the FBG array caused by the passage of the lightest rail vehicle was -225 pm. Characteristics of the train-track system, such as track occupancy, train length, number of wheels, train speed, direction, and loading can be accurately obtained in real time. This opto-mechatronics system can meet the requirements of 600 mm spatial resolution, long distance, and large capacity for monitoring the train-track system. This method exhibits great potential for applications in large-scale train-track monitoring, which is meaningful for the safe operation of rail transport.

Simultaneously distributed temperature and dynamic strain sensing based on a hybrid ultra-weak fiber grating array.

A fiber-optic sensing system based on two types of ultra-weak fiber Bragg gratings (UWFBG) for simultaneous temperature and vibration sensing was proposed. Narrowband and broadband UWFBGs are alternately written into an optical fiber with equal spacing. Distributed temperature sensing is realized by demodulating the wavelength shift of the narrowband UWFBG, while distributed vibration sensing is achieved by detecting phase variation between two adjacent broadband UWFBG interference pulses. The experimental results show that the proposed hybrid UWFBG array can perform temperature and vibration sensing simultaneously. The experimentally conducted temperature measurement ranges from 20°C to 100°C, with the measurement error less than 0.1°C. Vibration signals at different temperatures can be accurately restored, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is improved by 21.1 dB compared with a normal single-mode fiber (SMF).

Multiple-Octave-Spanning Vibration Sensing Based on Simultaneous Vector Demodulation of 499 Fizeau Interference Signals from Identical Ultra-Weak Fiber Bragg Gratings Over 2.5 km.

Multi-point vibration sensing at the low frequency range of 0.5-100 Hz is of vital importance for applications such as seismic monitoring and underwater acoustic imaging. Location-resolved multi-point sensing using a single fiber and a single demodulation system can greatly reduce system deployment and maintenance costs. We propose and demonstrate the demodulation of a fiber-optic system consisting of 500 identical ultra-weak Fiber Bragg gratings (uwFBGs), capable of measuring the amplitude, frequency and phase of acoustic signals from 499 sensing fibers covering a total range of 2.5 km. For demonstration purposes, we arbitrarily chose six consecutive sensors and studied their performance in detail. Using a passive demodulation method, we interrogated the six sensors simultaneously, and achieved a high signal-to-noise ratio of 22.1 dB, excellent linearity, phase sensitivity of around 0.024 rad/Pa, and a dynamic range of about 38 dB. We demonstrated a frequency response flatness of <1.2 dB in the range of 0.5-100 Hz. Compared to the prior state-of-the-art demonstration using a similar method, we have increased the sensing range from 1 km to 2.5 km, and increased the frequency range from 0.4 octaves to 7.6 octaves, in addition to achieving sensing in the very challenging low-frequency range of 0.5-100 Hz.

Simplex coded polarization optical time domain reflectometry system.

In polarization optical time domain reflectometry (POTDR) system, the performance of polarimetric measurement is constrained by the low signal to noise ratio (SNR) due to the weak Rayleigh backscattering and the degradation of the degree of polarization (DOP) of signal light. Therefore, it is indispensable to improve the SNR without sacrificing the DOP of backscattered signal for a sufficient dynamic range. In this paper, a Simplex coded POTDR (sc-POTDR) system is proposed and demonstrated. The relationships between the signal's DOP and coding length/bit width are studied. Both numerical simulations and experimental results show that the length of Simplex code has no impact to the signal's DOP and the temporal depolarization effect can be suppressed just by reducing the bit width. Applying 511-bit Simplex code, a coding gain of 10.125 dB has been demonstrated. By taking advantage of high DOP and the coding gain, the changes of polarization state caused by a mechanical event in a long fiber link have been detected and located precisely.

Tunable multiwavelength generation based on Brillouin-erbium comb fiber laser assisted by multiple four-wave mixing processes.

A tunable multiwavelength Brillouin-erbium comb fiber laser with ultra-narrow wavelength spacing and a large wavelength number, employing a 135-m highly nonlinear fiber, has been experimentally demonstrated. The simultaneous presence of Brillouin pump and Stokes lines within the ring cavity initiate higher-order Stokes and anti-Stokes lines via multiple four-wave mixing processes. The experiment demonstrates that this is an effective solution of increasing the number of lasing lines. Up to 150 lasing lines in single-longitudinal-mode operation with a rigid wavelength spacing of 0.075 nm have been achieved at 1480 nm pump powers of 165 mW and Brillouin pump power of 12.0 dBm. The multiwavelength source exhibits a good stability on both the operating wavelengths and the output powers, and a 6-nm tuning range from 1562 nm to 1568 nm is obtained.