Title :
Nonlinear polarization coupling and its application to high resolution distributed fiber sensing
Author :
Zhao, W. ; Bourkoff, E.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., South Carolina Univ., Columbia, SC, USA
fDate :
7/1/1993 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A technique for time-resolved, high-resolution distributed pressure sensing utilizing nonlinearly induced birefringence and polarization coupling in optical fibers is proposed. A theory of cross-interaction between two counterpropagating waves which agrees well with numerical simulations is presented. By measuring the relative power of the two principal polarizations of a probe wave at the fiber output, distribution of the linear birefringence along the fiber can be calculated, providing a convenient fiber optic sensor. The proposed sensor uses ultrashort pulses from mode-locked lasers and thus inherently possesses high spatial resolution and simplicity of the sensing head, in addition to the general features shared by all fiber sensors
Keywords :
birefringence; fibre optic sensors; high-speed optical techniques; laser mode locking; nonlinear optics; optical resolving power; pressure measurement; pressure sensors; counterpropagating waves; cross-interaction; distributed pressure sensing; fiber optic sensor; fiber output; high resolution distributed fiber sensing; high spatial resolution; high-resolution; linear birefringence; mode-locked lasers; nonlinear polarization coupling; nonlinearly induced birefringence; numerical simulations; optical fibers; principal polarizations; probe wave; relative power; sensing head; time-resolved; ultrashort pulses; Birefringence; Numerical simulation; Optical coupling; Optical fiber polarization; Optical fiber sensors; Optical fiber theory; Optical fibers; Power measurement; Probes; Sensor phenomena and characterization;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
