Narrow bandwidth Bragg gratings imprinted in polymer optical fibers for different spectral windows

The production and characterization of narrow bandwidth fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in different spectral regions using polymer optical fibers (POFs) is reported. Narrow bandwidth FBGs are increasingly important for POF transmission systems, WDM technology and sensing applications. Long FBGs with resonance wavelength around 600-nm, 850-nm and 1550-nm in several types of polymer optical fibers were inscribed using a scanning technique with a short optical path. The technique allowed the inscription in relative short periods of time. The obtained 3-dB bandwidth varies from 0.22 down to 0.045 nm considering a Bragg grating length between 10 and 25-mm, respectively. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Novel resonant cavity TDM demodulation scheme for FBG sensing

A novel time-division-multiplexed Bragg grating interrogation system is presented, utilising a semiconductor optical amplifier within a resonating cavity. Without fast electronics, closely spaced low reflectivity gratings are interrogated with high signal power and low noise.

Differential birefringence in Bragg gratings in multicore fiber under transverse stress

We present experimental measurements of the peak splitting of the reflection spectra of fiber Bragg gratings as a result of birefringence induced by transverse loading of a multicore fiber. Measurements show that the splitting is a function of the applied load and the direction of the load relative to the azimuth of the fiber. A model for calculating the stress in the fiber that is due to an applied load is in good agreement with our experimental observations.

Wide wavelength selectable all-fiber thulium doped fiber laser between 1925 nm and 2200 nm

We demonstrate an all-fiber Tm3+-doped silica fiber laser operating at a wide selectable wavelength range by using different fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) as wavelength selection elements. With a specifically designed high reflective (HR) FBG and the fiber end as an output coupler, the lasing in the range from 1975 nm to 2150 nm with slope efficiency of >30% can be achieved. By employing a low reflective (LR) FBG as the output coupler, the obtainable wavelengths were extended to the range between 1925 nm and 2200 nm which is the reported longest wavelength from the Tm3+-doped silica fiber lasers. Furthermore, by employing a FBG array in the laser cavity and inducing bend loss between adjacent FBGs in the array, six switchable lasing wavelengths were achieved. © 2014 Optical Society of America.

Thermal response of Bragg gratings in PMMA microstructured optical fibers

We report on the thermal characteristics or Bragg gratings fabricated in polymer optical fibers. We have observed a permanent shift in the grating wavelength at room temperature which occurs when the grating has been heated above a threshold temperature. This threshold temperature is dependent on the thermal history of the grating, and we attribute the effect to a shrinking of the fiber. This effect can be avoided by annealing the fiber before grating inscription, resulting in a linear response with temperature and an increased linear operating temperature range of the grating. © 2007 Optical Society of America.

An OTDR and gratings assisted multifunctional fiber sensing system

We report a distributed multifunctional fiber sensing network based on weak-fiber Bragg gratings (WFBGs) and long period fiber grating (LPG) assisted OTDR system. The WFBGs are applied for temperature, strain, and vibration monitoring at key position, and the LPG is used as a linear filter in the system to convert the wavelength shift of WFBGs caused by environmental change into the power change. The simulation results show that it is possible to integrate more than 4472 WFBGs in the system when the reflectivity of WFBGs is less than {10}^{-5}. Besides, the back-Rayleigh scattering along the whole fiber can also be detected which makes distributed bend sensing possible. As an experimental demonstration, we have used three WFBGs UV-inscribed with 50-m interval at the end of a 2.6-km long fiber, which part was subjected for temperature, strain, and vibration sensing, respectively. The ratio of the intensity of output and input light is used for temperature and strain sensing, and the results show strain and temperature sensitivities are 4.2 \times {10}^{-4}{/\mu \varepsilon } and 5.9 \times {10}^{-3}{{/ {^{\circ }}\textrm {C}}} , respectively. Detection of multiple vibrations and single vibration with the broad frequency band up to 500 Hz are also achieved. In addition, distributed bend sensing which could be simultaneously realized in this system has been proposed.

Highly sensitive liquid-level sensor based on dual-wavelength double-ring fiber laser assisted by beat frequency interrogation

A highly sensitive liquid-level sensor based on dual-wavelength single-longitudinal-mode fiber laser is proposed and demonstrated. The laser is formed by exploiting two parallel arranged phase-shift fiber Bragg gratings (ps-FBGs), acting as ultra-narrow bandwidth filters, into a doublering resonators. By beating the dual-wavelength lasing output, a stable microwave signal with frequency stability better than 5 MHz is obtained. The generated beat frequency varies with the change of dual-wavelength spacing. Based on this characteristic, with one ps-FBG serving as the sensing element and the other one acting as the reference element, a highly sensitive liquid level sensor is realized by monitoring the beat frequency shift of the laser. The sensor head is directly bonded to a float which can transfer buoyancy into axial strain on the fiber without introducing other elastic elements. The experimental results show that an ultra-high liquidlevel sensitivity of 2.12 × 107 MHz/m within the measurement range of 1.5 mm is achieved. The sensor presents multiple merits including ultra-high sensitivity, thermal insensitive, good reliability and stability. © 2012 Optical Society of America.

光纤布拉格光栅传感系统在海洋平台监测中的应用研究

首先阐述了光纤布拉格光栅(FBG)传感系统的传感原理和基本组成。然后介绍了我们研制的FBG温度和应变传感器的特性以及关于它们应用于平台监测中的可靠性问题的研究结果，包括疲劳损伤、防水密封和机械防护。最后讨论了FBG传感系统在海洋工程中的其它潜在用途。Sensing mechanism of Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and its sensing system are presented. Then, the performance of the FBG strain and temperature sensors we designed is described. Some results related to the reliability of the FBG sensor in the application to monitoring offshore platforms is also given, which involves fatigue damage, waterproof packing and mechanical protection. Finally, other potential applications of FBGs in offshore engineering are discussed.

光纤光栅在金属锈蚀传感中的应用

介绍了一种基于光纤布拉格光栅（FBG）应变敏感特性的金属锈蚀传感器。该器件由光纤光栅、有预应力的钢弹簧和一些机械部件组合而成。组合后的弹簧处于压缩状态。在弹簧弹力的作用下，光纤光栅的峰值波长增长了3．213m。对该器件进行了加速腐蚀实验：将其放入盐酸环境中，逐日监测光纤光栅峰值波长的变化，发现峰值波长逐渐缩短，说明弹簧的弹性系数随着弹簧的锈蚀而逐渐减小。到弹簧锈蚀断裂，整个锈蚀过程持续了1315h，平均锈蚀速率约5μm／d。实验表明了该传感器在实际应用中的可能性。同时讨论了光纤光栅的温度效应及其他影响其实

System model for studying fibre grating dispersion compensators

A complete optical system model has been developed and used to assess chirped fibre Bragg grating dispersion compensators. Gratings suitable for dispersion compensation in both laser based and modulator based optical communications systems have been modelled. A grating 10 cm in length has been shown to permit virtually dispersion free transmission over 425 km, when used in an externally modulated system. Long haul dispersion compensation using several 2 cm gratings spaced at intervals along the fibre is also modelled, illustrating viable 10Gbit/s transmission over a distance in excess of 168 km.

Self-aligned Coupled Waveguide Distributed Bragg Reflector Lasers

A novel self-aligned coupled waveguide (SACW) multi-quantum-well (MQW) distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser is proposed and demonstrated for the first time. By selectively removing the MQW layer and leaving the low SCH/SACW layer the Bragg grating is partially formed on this layer. By optimizing the thickness of the low SCH/SACW layer, a ～80% coupling efficiency between the MQW gain region and the passive region are obtained. The typical threshold current of the SACW DBR laser is 39 mA, the slope efficiency can reach to 0.2 mW/mA and the output power is more than 20 mW with a more than 30dB side mode suppression ratio.

Bandpass filter by a stretch and double-exposure technique

We fabricated a bandpass filter based on Moire Bragg grating in fiber with a uniform phase mask We employed a stretch and two-exposure technique, in which the fiber was exposed to UV light from a KrF excimer through a phase mask and then the fiber is stretched and given another exposure at the same region. Due to the stretch, the periods of these two grating are slightly different, and there is a transmission between two reflection peaks at the Bragg wavelength of these two gratings.Applying different stretch can control the bandpass width of the filter. We measured the stretch characterization of a uniform Bragg grating and found the Bragg wavelength of the grating shifts linearly with the stretched length.We theoretically analyzed the grating structure and its reflection spectrum. The filter's characteristics can be optimized by choosing appropriate parameters. We will give a theoretical discussion concerning which parameters and how they affect the filter's operation.

Fiber-Optic Ring-Down Spectroscopy Using a Tunable Picosecond Gain-Switched Diode Laser

Visible and near-infrared laser light pulses were coupled into two different types of optical fiber cavities. One cavity consisted of a short strand of fiber waveguide that contained two identical fiber Bragg gratings. Another cavity was made using a loop of optical fiber. In either cavity ∼ 40 ps laser pulses, which were generated using a custom-built gainswitched diode laser, circulated for a large number of round trips. The optical loss of either cavity was determined from the ring-down times. Cavity ring-down spectroscopy was performed on 200 pL volumes of liquid samples that were injected into the cavities using a 100 μm gap in the fiber loop. A detection limit of 20 ppm of methylene blue dye in aqueous solution, corresponding to a minimum absorptivity of εC < 6 cm−1, was realized.

Building Stone Condition Monitoring Using Specially Designed Compensated Optical Fiber Humidity Sensors

This paper presents the design and implementation of a novel optical fiber temperature compensated relative humidity (RH) sensor device, based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and developed specifically for monitoring water ingress leading to the deterioration of building stone. The performance of the sensor thus created, together with that of conventional sensors, was first assessed in the laboratory where they were characterized under experimental conditions of controlled wetting and drying cycles of limestone blocks, before being employed “in-the-field” to monitor actual building stone in a specially built wall. Although a new construction, this was built specifically using conservation methods similar to those employed in past centuries, to allow an accurate simulation of processes occurring with wetting and drying in the historic walls in the University of Oxford.

Fibre-optic strain sensor system with temperature compensation for arch bridge condition monitoring

This paper presents an innovative sensor system, created specifically for new civil engineering structural monitoring applications, allowing specially packaged fiber grating-based sensors to be used in harsh, in-the-field measurement conditions for accurate strain measurement with full temperature compensation. The sensor consists of two fiber Bragg gratings that are protected within a polypropylene package, with one of the fiber gratings isolated from the influence of strain and thus responding only to temperature variations, while the other is sensitive to both strain and temperature. To achieve this, the temperature-monitoring fiber grating is slightly bent and enclosed in a metal envelope to isolate it effectively from the strain. Through an appropriate calibration process, both the strain and temperature coefficients of each individual grating component when incorporated in the sensor system can be thus obtained. By using these calibrated coefficients in the operation of the sensor, both strain and temperature can be accurately determined. The specific application for which these sensors have been designed is seen when installed on an innovative small-scale flexi-arch bridge where they are used for real-time strain measurements during the critical installation stage (lifting) and loading. These sensors have demonstrated enhanced resilience when embedded in or surface-mounted on such concrete structures, providing accurate and consistent strain measurements not only during installation but subsequently during use. This offers an inexpensive and highly effective monitoring system tailored for the new, rapid method of the installation of small-scale bridges for a variety of civil engineering applications.