Tensile and compressive strain measurement in the lab and fieldwith the distributed Brillouin scattering sensor

The structural strain measurement of tension and compression in the steel beam was demonstrated with a distributed fiber-optic sensor system based on Brillouin scattering. The experiments were conducted both in the laboratory and outdoors. When it is in the outdoor environment, the temperature compensation has been taken into account for the strain measurement due to sunlight radiation. The compressive strain has been measured, without needing pretension on the fiber with a Brillouin scattering-based distributed sensor system, when the fiber is glued to the steel beam at every point. The dynamic range in the strain measurement has been increased, due to the elimination of the pretension requirement. The spatial resolution of the strain measurement is 0.5 m. The strain measurement accuracy is ±10 με(μm/m) in the laboratory environment with nonuniform-distributed strain. With uniform strain distribution, the strain accuracy for this system can be. ~±5 με. These results were achieved with the introductions of a computer-controlled polarization controller, a fast digitizer-signal averager, a pulse duration control, and the electrical optical modulator bias setting in the software     

Spontaneous and stimulated Brillouin scattering gain spectra in optical fibers

We study the Brillouin scattering behavior in several single-mode fibers with different waveguide characteristics in terms of their longitudinal mode structures in the gain spectrum, linewidth narrowing, and stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) threshold levels. Evolution from spontaneous to SBS is investigated by monitoring the Brillouin line-shape and the behavior of the longitudinal acoustooptic resonance modes that exist in the core. We compare our results with the current theory of Brillouin scattering generated from noise in the undepleted pump approximation. We also present experimentally Brillouin gain spectra in the highly depleted pump regime, where there is no analytical solution, by showing the evolution of the gain spectrum as a function of the injected laser intensity.     

Impact of stimulated Brillouin scattering in optical fibers withdistributed gain

The equations describing the stimulated Brillouin scattering process in optical fibers with distributed gain, including an equation for the second-order Stokes wave, are numerically solved. An analytical solution for the case of no net gain or loss is also presented. We note that the presence of distributed gain along the fiber leads to a nonmonotonous evolution of the signal power and to ready generation of multiple Stokes orders. The effect of broadening the signal spectrum, as well as the influence of a copropagating or counterpropagating signal are also examined     

基于光纤SBS效应的光存储

光信息存储作为全光交换和路由的关键技术,在未来的全光网络中有着重要意义.介绍了一些最新的利用光纤中的受激布里渊散射(SBS)效应实现光存储的实验方法和研究成果,综述了国内外在利用SBS产生可调控光纤慢光方面的研究进展.     

High-sensitivity distributed dynamic strain sensing by combining Rayleigh and Brillouin scattering

The phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (φ-OTDR) is a good candidate for distributed dynamic strain sensing, due to its high sensitivity and fast ...     

20-km distributed temperature sensor based on spontaneous Brillouin scattering

We report on a novel experimental setup for distributed measurement of temperature, based on spontaneous Brillouin scattering in optical fiber. We have developed a mode-locked Brillouin fiber ring laser in order to generate the dual frequency source required for a heterodyne detection of the backscattered signal. This relatively simple system enables temperature measurements over 20 km with a spatial resolution of 7 m.     

喇曼散射分布式光纤测温系统实时性的改进

针对双路喇曼散射分布式光纤测温系统测温周期过长的缺点,在保证系统空间分辨率的前提下,提出了硬件数字累加平均技术与小波去噪相结合的信号处理方法.重点讨论了小波去噪中小波基函数的选择、小波分解层数的确定以及阈值量化处理方式的确定三项关键技术.最终采用此种信号处理方法提高了系统信噪比,并将系统测温周期降低至4s.对比实验结果表明:与硬件数字累加平均相比,小波去噪无论是在改善信噪比还是在减少测温时间方面都具有显著的优势.     

A technique to measure distributed strain in optical fibers

The technique is based on Brillouin optical-fiber time-domain analysis (BOTDA), which uses Brillouin interaction between counterpropagating pump and probe light waves. Experimental results for fibers wound on drums at various tensions are presented. A strain measurement accuracy of better than 2×10^-5 and a spatial resolution of 100 m are achieved     

Spontaneous Raman scattering in optical fibers with modulated probelight for distributed temperature Raman remote sensing

Long-length fiber-optic remote Raman sensors are used for distributed temperature measurements. Toward this aim, we apply optical-fiber frequency-domain reflectometry. The Raman intensity generated in single- and multimode optical fibers is theoretically investigated for sinusoidally intensity-modulated probe light. Thus, a proper sensor element and wavelength for fiber-optic Raman sensing is determined. Further, the temperature error for long sensor fibers is theoretically analyzed     

Brillouin distributed time-domain sensing in optical fibers: state of the art and perspectives

Optical fiber sensors based on stimulated Brillouin scattering have now clearly demonstrated their excellent capability for long-range distributed strain and temperature measurements. The fiber is used as sensing element, and a value for temperature and/or strain can be obtained from any point along the fiber. After explaining the principle and presenting the standard implementation, the latest developments in this class of sensors will be introduced, such as the possibility to measure with a spatial resolution of 10 cm and below while preserving the full accuracy on the determination of temperature and strain.     

First measurement of strain distribution along field-installedoptical fibers using Brillouin spectroscopy

Strain distributions along optical fibers in a 1.3-km-long cable before and after installation are measured using Brillouin optical-fiber time domain analysis. The residual strains in the installed optical fibers were found to vary from zero to 0.07%, depending on the conduit configuration and installation procedure. Strain distribution measurements were carried out on a 24-fiber slotted-core type single-mode optical fiber cable for 1.55-μm-wavelength transmission, whose length, outer diameter, and weight were 1.3 km, 14 mm, and 0.18 kg/m, respectively. No clear relation between strain distributions and the fiber configuration in the test cable are found     

多模光纤布里渊散射角及频移的分析与计算

为了确定多模光纤布里渊频移的取值范围,进而评价多模光纤布里渊分布式传感系统的性能,从多模光纤的结构出发,根据射线光学理论分析了多模光纤中的布里渊散射过程,提出了确定布里渊散射角取值范围的方法,得到了阶跃型和渐变型多模光纤布里渊散射角的取值范围为两倍的全反射临界角到π,进而得到布里渊频移的变化范围为10.978~11.083 GHz,该结论为多模光纤布里渊分布式传感系统的设计和优化提供了理论依据。     

Modeling of stimulated Brillouin scattering in optical fibers with arbitrary radial index profile

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is an impairment seen in narrowband transmission over optical telecommunications fiber at high laser power. Accurate modeling is necessary to predict the strength of this phenomenon. One method of SBS control is the optimal design of the fiber radial index of refraction profile. Previous work has been limited to modeling optical fibers with one or more radial step changes in index. Here, the author derives and solves a general set of differential equations that allow the numerical solution of SBS spectral gain for an arbitrary radial index profile. Simulated and measured spectra are compared for several fibers with GeO/sub 2/-doped cores. It is found that radial material displacement plays a significant role in the SBS interaction in fibers with a complex radial index profile.     

Potential of stimulated Brillouin scattering as sensing mechanism for distributed temperature sensors

It is demonstrated that stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) occurring in the core of an optical fibre may be used in the construction of a distributed temperature sensor. Initial experiments with a length of fibre have shown that the sensitivity of the Stokes frequency to temperature is approximately 5.5 MHz/ degrees C and that different Stokes frequencies may be observed according to the temperature distribution along the fibre.<>     

A distributed temperature sensor based on liquid-core optical fibers

The principles of operation, the design, and performance of a fiber-optic temperature-distribution sensor are discussed. The sensor uses optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) to detect temperature-induced changes of backscatter power at many separate locations in the fiber. In liquid-core fibers, a sensitivity of2.3 times 10^{-2}dB/°C (0.54 percent° C^-1) was observed. A measurement accuracy of 1°C with a spatial resoltuion of 1 m is attainable over a fiber length of 100 m.     

Simultaneous measurement of temperature and strain:cross-sensitivity considerations

Interferometric sensors using optical fibers as a transduction medium have been shown to be sensitive to a variety of physical measurands. A result of this is that the resolution of a system designed to sense strain, for example, may be compromised by fluctuations in the temperature of the environment. The possibility of simultaneously determining the strain and temperature applied to the same piece of highly birefringent fiber is discussed. Second-order effects are shown to be important for long sensing lengths or in the presence of high strains or temperature changes. The results of experiments carried out to verify the theoretical predictions are also described     

Coherent self-heterodyne Brillouin OTDR for measurement ofBrillouin frequency shift distribution in optical fibers

Time domain reflectometry of spontaneously Brillouin scattered lightwaves in a single-mode optical fiber is demonstrated with a coherent self-heterodyne detection system employing a recently proposed frequency translator, a DFB laser diode, and erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. Since the probe pulse frequency is up-converted by the translator by an amount approximately equal to the Brillouin frequency shift, the self-heterodyne beat frequency can be reduced to a sufficiently low frequency in the IF band. The system enables one-end measurement of the Brillouin frequency shift distribution in optical fibers with a single way dynamic range (SWDR) of 16 dB and a frequency resolution of 5 MHz for a spatial resolution of 100 m     

Performance prospects for distributed measurement of Raman gain characteristics in optical fibers

A new technique has already been proposed by the authors for measuring Raman gain characteristics in single-mode optical fibers. The advantage of this technique is that it enables the evaluation of the longitudinal distribution of the Raman gain efficiency in concatenated fibers. With such distributed measurements, it is important to investigate the measurable length, which is determined by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the detected signal. In this paper, the maximum measurable length available with the previous technique was clarified based on both theoretical and experimental investigation. The SNR of the detected signal has been calculated theoretically, and it has been found that calculated and experimental results were in good agreement. Based on the SNR calculation, the measurable lengths available with this technique for various spatial resolutions and signal wavelengths are discussed.     

Polarization properties of stimulated Brillouin scattering insingle-mode fibers

The polarization properties of stimulated brillouin scattering (SBS) in low birefringent optical fibers were evaluated using Stokes calculus. It was found that the Brillouin gain for orthogonally polarized pump and probe wave is half (in dB) of the gain for identical polarization, and not equal as often mentioned in literature. Therefore the polarization factor is K=1_1/2 for complete polarization scrambling, and not K=2. The spontaneous SBS has the same state of polarization as the pump, and its degree of polarization is 33.3% for low pump powers and near 100% for high pump powers. The experimental results agree very well with the calculations     

Simultaneous strain and temperature measurement using a singlefibre Bragg grating

A new scheme for simultaneous strain and temperature measurement using a single fibre Bragg grating is proposed. The Bragg grating was written on the splice joint between two fibres and has two Bragg wavelengths, which show the same strain dependence but different temperature response and hence can be used for strain/temperature discrimination