Recent Advances in Distributed Acoustic Sensing Based on Phase-Sensitive Optical Time Domain Reflectometry

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) using coherent Rayleigh backscattering in an optical fiber has become a ubiquitous technique for monitoring multiple dynamic events in real time. It has continued to constitute a steadily increasing share of the fiber-optic sensor market, thanks to its interesting applications in many safety, security, and integrity monitoring systems. In this contribution, an overview of the recent advances of research in DAS based on phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (ϕ-OTDR) is provided. Some advanced techniques used to enhance the performance of ϕ-OTDR sensors for measuring backscattering intensity changes through reduction of measurement noise are presented, in addition to methods used to increase the dynamic measurement capacity of ϕ-OTDR schemes beyond conventional limits set by the sensing distance. Recent ϕ-OTDR configurations which significantly enhance the measurement spatial resolution, including those which decouple it from the probing pulse width, are also discussed. Finally, a review of recent advances in more precise quantitative measurement of an external impact based on frequency shift and phase demodulation methods using simple direct detection ϕ-OTDR schemes is given

Demodulation and Detection Schemes for a Memoryless Optical WDM Channel

It is well known that matched filtering and sampling (MFS) demodulation together with minimum Euclidean distance (MD) detection constitute the optimal receiver for the additive white Gaussian noise channel. However, for a general nonlinear transmission medium, MFS does not provide sufficient statistics, and therefore is suboptimal. Nonetheless, this receiver is widely used in optical systems, where the Kerr nonlinearity is the dominant impairment at high powers. In this paper, we consider a suite of receivers for a two-user channel subject to a type of nonlinear interference that occurs in wavelength-division-multiplexed channels. The asymptotes of the symbol error rate (SER) of the considered receivers at high powers are derived or bounded analytically. Moreover, Monte-Carlo simulations are conducted to evaluate the SER for all the receivers. Our results show that receivers that are based on MFS cannot achieve arbitrary low SERs, whereas the SER goes to zero as the power grows for the optimal receiver. Furthermore, we devise a heuristic demodulator, which together with the MD detector yields a receiver that is simpler than the optimal one and can achieve arbitrary low SERs. The SER performance of the proposed receivers is also evaluated for some single-span fiber-optical channels via split-step Fourier simulations

Impact of Environmental Influences on Multilevel Modulation Formats at the Signal Transmission in the Optical Transmission Medium

This paper is devoted to the analysis of environmental influences in the optical transmission medium and their impacts on multilevel modulation formats. An attention is focused on main features and characteristics of environmental negative influences of optical fibers. Consequently, principles for appropriate multilevel modulation formats are introduced together with block schemes representing their main functionalities. The created Simulink model for technologies and communications is verified for real conditions in the optical transmission medium. It can allow executing requested analysis for environmental influences on advanced multilevel modulation formats at the signal transmission. Finally, a comparison of considered multilevel modulations is introduced, using constellation diagrams, signal characteristics, eye diagrams and waterfall curves of individual signals

Limits of performance of chirped- pulse phase-sensitive OTDR

Distributed acoustic sensing is an emerging field of research which aims to develop methods capable of using a single optical fiber as a long, dense, and high-sensitivity sensor array. Currently, the most promising implementations measure the interference of Rayleigh backscattered light, obtained by probing the fiber with light from a source of high coherence. These methods are known as Phase-sensitive Optical Time-Domain Reflectometers (φOTDR), and are currently undergoing a period of active research and development, both academically and industrially. One of its variants, known as the Chirped-Pulse φOTDR (CP-φOTDR), was developed in 2016. This technique has proven to be remarkably sensitive to strain and temperature, with an attractively simple implementation. In this thesis, we delve into the intricacies of this technique, probing its fundamental limits and addressing current limitations. We discuss the implications of estimation on the performance statistics, the impact of different noise sources and the origin of cross-talk between independent measured positions. In doing so, we also propose methods to reach the current fundamental limitations, and overcome the upper bound of measurable perturbations. We then demonstrate new potential applications of the technique: in seismology, by exploiting the high spatial density of measurements for array signal processing; in the fast characterization of linear birefringence in standard single-mode fibers; and on the measurement of sound pressure waves, by using a special flat cable structure to embed the fiber under test. Finally, we summarize and comment on the aforementioned achievements, proposing some open lines of research that may originate from these results.Distributed acoustic sensing is an emerging field of research which aims to develop methods capable of using a single optical fiber as a long, dense, and highsensitivity sensor array. Currently, the most promising implementations measure the interference of Rayleigh backscattered light, obtained by probing the fiber with light from a source of high coherence. These methods are known as Phase-sensitive Optical Time-Domain Reflectometers (φOTDR), and are currently undergoing a period of active research and development, both academically and industrially. One of its variants, known as the Chirped- Pulse φOTDR (CP-φOTDR), was developed in 2016. This technique has proven to be remarkably sensitive to strain and temperature, with an attractively simple implementation. In this thesis, we delve into the intricacies of this technique, probing its fundamental limits and addressing current limitations. We discuss the implications of estimation on the performance statistics, the impact of different noise sources and the origin of cross-talk between independent measured positions. In doing so, we also propose methods to reach the current fundamental limitations, and overcome the upper bound of measurable perturbations. We then demonstrate new potential applications of the technique: in seismology, by exploiting the high spatial density of measurements for array signal processing; in the fast characterization of linear birefringence in standard single-mode fibers; and on the measurement of sound pressure waves, by using a special flat cable structure to embed the fiber under test. Finally, we summarize and comment on the aforementioned achievements, proposing some open lines of research that may originate from these results

Advanced measurement techniques in optical fiber sensor and communication systems

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

High Data Rate Coherent Optical OFDM System for Long-Haul Transmission

The growth in internet traffic has driven the increase in demand for bandwidth and high data rates. Optical Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing is considered as a promising technology to satisfy the increased demand for bandwidth in broadband services. Optical OFDM received a great attention after proposing it as a modulation technique for the long-haul transmission in both direct and coherent detection. However, Coherent Optical OFDM (CO-OFDM) is the next generation technology for the optical communications, since it integrates the advantages of both coherent systems and OFDM systems. It has the ability to overcome many optical fiber restrictions such as chromatic dispersion (CD) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD). Moreover, Integrating the Coherent Optical OFDM with Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) systems will provide the transmission system with a high bandwidth, a significant data rates, and a high spectral efficiency without increasing the cost or the complexity of the system. WDM systems help to enhance the capacity and the data rate of the system by sending multiple wavelengths over a single fiber. This research focuses on the implementation and performance analysis of high data rate coherent optical OFDM for long-haul transmission. The study starts with a single user and extends to the implanting of the WDM system. OptiSystem-12 simulation tool is fully used to design and implement the system. The system utilizes to carry range of data rates start from 10 Gbps to 1 Tbps, 4-QAM (2 bits-per-symbol) is used a modulation type for the OFDM signal, Optical I/Q modulation is employed at the transmitter and coherent detection is employed at the receiver. The performance of the system is studied and analyzed system in terms of Bit-Error-Rate (BER), the effect of the transmission distance on the Optical-Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (OSNR), and the relation of BER and OSNR with regard to the transmission distance

Exploration of Novel Applications for Optical Communications using Silicon Nanophotonics

Silicon photonics is considered to have the potential to enable future communication systems with optical input-outputs to circumvent the shortcomings of electronics. Today silicon is the material of choice for photonic and optoelectronic circuits, mainly due to its excellent material properties, established processing technology, low-cost, compact device footprint, and high-density integration. From sensing and detection to computing and communications, silicon photonics has advanced remarkably in the last couple of decades and found numerous applications. This thesis work focusses on three novel applications of silicon photonics for optical communications. The first application is the design and demonstration of a differential phase shift keying (DPSK) demodulator circuit using a ring resonator. DPSK-based transceivers are being actively considered for short-haul optical communication systems due to their advantages in terms of high extinction ratio, dispersion tolerance, and improved sensitivity. The ring resonator utilizes the concept of coherent perfect absorption and results into a compact demodulator circuit that can be easily integrated into an all-optical system. The next application involves a nonlinear optical process, namely, four wave mixing (FWM) inside a silicon nanowire. For FWM to occur efficiently, phase matching between the real propagation constants of all the frequency components is a key requirement. However, this condition cannot be easily satisfied in integrated optics semiconductor platforms. We propose an altogether new approach to achieve signal gain within the context of non-Hermitian photonics and parity-time (PT) symmetry and show that the phase matching criterion is not necessary to achieve efficient nonlinear interactions. Instead by introducing losses only to the idler components while leaving the pump and signal waves intact, we analyze a coupled-wave system of silicon nanowires using finite difference time domain technique and find that signal gain is indeed possible in such a system, irrespective of the fulfillment of the phase-matching condition. The final application of silicon photonics in this thesis is the engineering of zero group velocity dispersion (GVD) point in the C-band of communication channel. The problem of pulse broadening due to chromatic dispersion is becoming an increasingly important factor for signal degradation. We propose a hybrid silicon/plasmonic waveguide that can change the zero-GVD point by altering the geometry and material of the waveguide components. In addition, such hybrid system also has the potential to transmit both optical and electronic signals along the same circuitry

Distributed Fiber Ultrasonic Sensor and Pattern Recognition Analytics

Ultrasound interrogation and structural health monitoring technologies have found a wide array of applications in the health care, aerospace, automobile, and energy sectors. To achieve high spatial resolution, large array electrical transducers have been used in these applications to harness sufficient data for both monitoring and diagnoses. Electronic-based sensors have been the standard technology for ultrasonic detection, which are often expensive and cumbersome for use in large scale deployments. Fiber optical sensors have advantageous characteristics of smaller cross-sectional area, humidity-resistance, immunity to electromagnetic interference, as well as compatibility with telemetry and telecommunications applications, which make them attractive alternatives for use as ultrasonic sensors. A unique trait of fiber sensors is its ability to perform distributed acoustic measurements to achieve high spatial resolution detection using a single fiber. Using ultrafast laser direct-writing techniques, nano-reflectors can be induced inside fiber cores to drastically improve the signal-to-noise ratio of distributed fiber sensors. This dissertation explores the applications of laser-fabricated nano-reflectors in optical fiber cores for both multi-point intrinsic Fabry–Perot (FP) interferometer sensors and a distributed phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (φ-OTDR) to be used in ultrasound detection. Multi-point intrinsic FP interferometer was based on swept-frequency interferometry with optoelectronic phase-locked loop that interrogated cascaded FP cavities to obtain ultrasound patterns. The ultrasound was demodulated through reassigned short time Fourier transform incorporating with maximum-energy ridges tracking. With tens of centimeters cavity length, this approach achieved 20kHz ultrasound detection that was finesse-insensitive, noise-free, high-sensitivity and multiplex-scalability. The use of φ-OTDR with enhanced Rayleigh backscattering compensated the deficiencies of low inherent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The dynamic strain between two adjacent nano-reflectors was extracted by using 3×3 coupler demodulation within Michelson interferometer. With an improvement of over 35 dB SNR, this was adequate for the recognition of the subtle differences in signals, such as footstep of human locomotion and abnormal acoustic echoes from pipeline corrosion. With the help of artificial intelligence in pattern recognition, high accuracy of events’ identification can be achieved in perimeter security and structural health monitoring, with further potential that can be harnessed using unsurprised learning