Fibre segment interferometry using code-division multiplexed optical signal processing for strain sensing applications

A novel optical signal processing scheme for multiplexing fibre segment interferometers is proposed. The continuous-wave, homodyne technique combines code-division multiplexing with single-sideband modulation. It uses only one electro-optic phase modulator to achieve both range separation and quadrature interferometric phase measurement. This scheme is applied to fibre segment interferometry, where a number of long-gauge length interferometric fibre sensors are formed by subtracting pairs of signals from equidistantly placed, weak back reflectors. In this work we give a detailed account of the signal processing involved and, in particular, explore aspects such as electronic bandwidth requirements, noise, crosstalk and linearity, which are important design considerations. A signal bandwidth of ±20 kHz permits the resolution of phase change rates of 2.5 × 104 rad s-1 for each of the four 16.5 m long segments in our setup. We show that dynamic strain resolutions below 0.2 nanostrain Hz-0.5 at 2 m sensor gauge length are achievable, even with an inexpensive diode laser. When used in applications that require only relative strain change measurements, this scheme compares well to more established techniques and can provide high-fidelity yet cost-effective measurements

Range-resolved optical interferometric signal processing

The ability to identify the range of an interferometric signal is very useful in interferometry, allowing the suppression of parasitic signal components or permitting several signal sources to be multiplexed. Two novel range-resolved optical interferometric signal processing techniques, employing very different working principles, are theoretically described and experimentally demonstrated in this thesis. The first technique is based on code-division multiplexing (CDM), which is combined with single-sideband signal processing, resulting in a technique that, unlike prior work, only uses a single, regular electro-optic phase modulator to perform both range-based signal identification and interferometric phase evaluation. The second approach uses sinusoidal optical frequency modulation (SFM), induced by injection current modulation of a diode laser, to introduce range-dependent carriers to determine phase signals in interferometers of non-zero optical path difference. Here, a key innovation is the application of a smooth window function, which, when used together with a time-variant demodulation approach, allows optical path lengths of constituent interferometers to be continuously and independently variable, subject to a minimum separation, greatly increasing the practicality of the approach. Both techniques are applied to fibre segment interferometry, where fibre segments that act as long-gauge length interferometric sensors are formed between pairs of partial in-fibre reflectors. Using a regular single-mode laser diode, six fibre segments of length 12.5 cm are multiplexed with a quadrature bandwidth of 43 kHz and a phase noise floor of 0.19 mrad · Hz -0.5 using the SFM technique. In contrast, the 16.5 m spatial resolution achieved with the CDM technique points towards its applicability in medium-to-long range sensing. The SFM technique also allows high linearity, with cyclic errors as low as 1 mrad demonstrated, and with modelling indicating further room for improvement. Additionally, in an industrial measurement, the SFM technique is applied to single-beam, multi-surface vibrometry, allowing simultaneous differential measurements between two vibrating surfaces

Review and Analysis of Peak Tracking Techniques for Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors are among the most popular elements for fiber optic sensor networks used for the direct measurement of temperature and strain. Modern FBG interrogation setups measure the FBG spectrum in real-time, and determine the shift of the Bragg wavelength of the FBG in order to estimate the physical parameters. The problem of determining the peak wavelength of the FBG from a spectral measurement limited in resolution and noise, is referred as the peak-tracking problem. In this work, the several peak-tracking approaches are reviewed and classified, outlining their algorithmic implementations: the methods based on direct estimation, interpolation, correlation, resampling, transforms, and optimization are discussed in all their proposed implementations. Then, a simulation based on coupled-mode theory compares the performance of the main peak-tracking methods, in terms of accuracy and signal to noise ratio resilience

Intensity based interrogation of optical fibre sensors for industrial automation and intrusion detection systems

In this study, the use of optical fibre sensors for intrusion detection and industrial automation systems has been demonstrated, with a particular focus on low cost, intensity-based, interrogation techniques. The use of optical fibre sensors for intrusion detection systems to secure residential, commercial, and industrial premises against potential security breaches has been extensively reviewed in this thesis. Fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensing is one form of optical fibre sensing that has been underutilised in applications such as in-ground, in-fence, and window and door monitoring, and addressing that opportunity has been a major goal of this thesis. Both security and industrial sensor systems must include some centralised intelligence (electronic controller) and ideally both automation and security sensor systems would be controlled and monitored by the same centralised system. Optical fibre sensor systems that could be used for either application have been designed, developed, and tested in this study, and optoelectronic interfaces for integrating these sensors with electronic controllers have been demonstrated. The versatility of FBG sensors means that they are also ideal for certain mainstream industrial applications. Two novel transducers have been developed in this work; a highly sensitive low pressure FBG diaphragm transducer and a FBG load cell transducer. Both have been designed to allow interrogation of the optical signal could occur within the housing of the individual sensors themselves. This is achieved in a simple and low cost manner that enables the output of the transducers to be easily connected to standard electronic controllers, such as programmable logic controllers. Furthermore, some of the nonlinear characteristics of FBG sensors have been explored with the aim of developing transducers that are inherently decoupled from strain and temperature interference. One of the major advantages of optical fibre sensors is their ability to be both time division and wavelength division multiplexed. The intensity-based interrogation techniques used here complement this attribute and are a major consideration when developing the transducers and optoelectronic circuits. A time division multiplexing technique, using transmit-reflect detection and incorporating a dual bus, has also been developed. This system architecture enables all the different optical fibre transducers on the network to have the same Bragg wavelength and hence the number of spare replacement transducers required is minimal. Moreover, sensors can be replaced in an online control system without disrupting the network. In addition, by analysing both the transmitted and reflected signals, problems associated with optical power fluctuations are eliminated and the intensity of the sensor signals is increased through differential amplification. Overall, the research addresses the limitations of conventional electrical sensors, such as susceptibility to corrosive damage in wet and corrosive environments, and risk of causing an explosion in hazardous environments, as well as the limitations of current stand-alone optical fibre sensor systems. This thesis supports more alert, reliable, affordable, and coordinated, control and monitoring systems in an on-line environment

Investigation of wavelength tunable laser modules for use in future optically switched dense wavelength division multiplexed networks

This thesis investigates the use of fast wavelength tunable laser modules in future optically switched dense wavelength division multiplexed networks (DWDM). The worldwide demand for increasingly greater broadband access has thus far been satisfied by the use of DWDM networks, enabled by the development of the erbium doped amplifier. However as this demand continues to grow electronic switching at network nodes will become a limiting factor, creating a potential bandwidth mismatch between the fibre capacities and switching capacity. Optical switching has been proposed to overcome this electronic bottleneck and fully utilize the enormous bandwidth offered by fibre. Fast tunable lasers (TLs) are a key technology in this area, enabling fast wavelength switching. Experimental work involving the fast wavelength switching of sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector TL modules is presented. Spurious mode generation during wavelength tuning is shown to cause severe cross-channel interference on other data channels in a DWDM test bed. Bit error rate (BER) results demonstrate that a integrated semiconductor optical amplifier can greatly reduce system degradation caused by asynchronous switching of multiple TLs. This is achieved by optically blanking the laser output during channel transition for a period of 60 ns. Immediately after the blanking period a wavelength drift due to the TL module wavelength locking is found to cause cross channel interference and introduce an error floor >1 e-4 on the BER performance characteristic of an adjacent channel in a 12.5 GHz spaced DWDM network. This drift is characterised, using a selfheterodyne and a filter based approach – Error free performance is subsequently demonstrated by using an extended blanking period of 260 ns or by using subcarrier multiplexing transmission and phase selective demodulation before detection. A DWDM optical label switching system, utilizing 40 Gbit/s payload data with low data rate labels placed on a 40 GHz sub-carrier and using TL transmitters is presented. Channel performance is monitored on a static channel as a second data channel is tuned into an adjacent channel on a 100 GHz spaced grid. Error free performance is demonstrated only for the channel payload – Time resolved BER results in agreement with the TL wavelength drift are measured and demonstrate a detrimental influence of the drift on the sub-carrier label performance