Sinusoidal phase modulating (SPM) interferometry is a well-established technique for ultra-precise measurements. In SPM interferometry, the phase modulation depth is of crucial importance: it is either a measurand or a key parameter for accurate phase demodulation. For laser diode SPM interferometry, the problem of residual amplitude modulation (RAM) should be considered, thus the measurement of phase modulation depth becomes difficult, especially when the RAM ratio is unknown. In this paper, a novel method is proposed to simultaneously obtain phase modulation depth and RAM ratio: by solving a twelve-variable nonlinear equation set, phase modulation depth and RAM ratio can be retrieved numerically. Preliminary simulations show that this method is rarely influenced by the choice of initial values for the numerical solving process.
The stray interference peaks (SIPs) are an important factor resulting in the misjudgment of measurement information in white light interferometer (WLI). SIPs are generated by the residual reflected light beams. We theoretically analyze the interference conditions of the SIP. The analysis shows that these SIPs are discrete main interference peak outside and have different orders. We present a stagger optical path (SOP) method for suppressing or eliminating these SIP which will appear in the interference pattern. The SOP means that there is an appropriate fiber length determined by the delay amount of delay line between each joint. Moreover, an experiment with two joints, for simplicity, is given as an example. Experimental results show that the high-order SIP from the joints can be suppressed by the SOP to obtain a clean interference pattern.
We present a method for measuring polarization extinction ratio (PER) of multi-functional integrated optic chip (MFIOC) based on White light interferometry (WLI) against birefringence dispersion (BD) and noise. Instead of reading peak value, this method obtains PER via calculating the energy of the interferogram, which is theoretically proved that is independent of BD and proportional to the square of its peak value. In addition, the results of simulation demonstrate the method has an advantage of noise robustness versus the conventional peak value method. Eventually, experiment results of 100 measurements for a MFIOC are agree with the theory and simulation results.
A measurement method of distributed birefringence dispersion (BD) for polarization-maintaining fiber is presented. This method is based on white light interferometry and optimization method. The sharpness function proposed in this paper is theoretically proved that will reach its maximum at the proper BD value. In addition, it is robust to noise demonstrated via simulation experiment. Eventually, the measurement result of average distributed BD for a 500m-long PMF coil with splicing points is -392.6 fs2/m and the relative error for every splicing point is less than 0.5‰.
We propose an improved optical coherence domain polarimetry (OCDP) calibration scheme by using polarization mode crosstalk (PMC). The scheme can be used to calibrate the OCDP system's measurement result about intensity of PMC. The intensity of 1st order PMCs are measured by polarization extinction ratio (PER) meter as the scale to transfer the standard into OCDP system, and the higher order PMCs formed by 1st orders are used to expand the scale. Specifying alignment angle of joint points and analyzer, we successfully use 3rd order PMCs and expand the range of calibration over -100 dB.
We present a method to measure the polarization mode dispersion (PMD) of the LiNbO3 multifunctional integrated waveguide modulator (MFIWM) which is consist of a Y-waveguide, two extended polarization maintaining (PM) fibers, lead-in PM pigtail and lead-out PM pigtail. This method is based on an all-fiber time-domain scanning white light interferometer and utilizes fast Fourier transform (FFT) technology to obtain interferometric phase. The PMD of each part of MFIWM was measured and distinguished accurately. It’s demonstrated that, the PMD of Y-waveguide is 13.5 ps/nm/km@1555nm which is approximately 40~160 times of the PMD of PM fibers in the MFIWM under test.
This paper proposed a calibration scheme of optical path correlator(OPC) for optical coherence domain polarimeter (OCDP), the calibration scheme employs a dual Mach-Zehnder interferometers multiplexing one OPC by dual wavelength wave division multiplexer, one interferometer as target interferometer is used to sensing measurement, another interferometer with 3×3 coupler as reference interferometer is used for OPC scan speed and positon calibration to improve the target interferometer signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) and interference envelope positioning accuracy, this calibration scheme is used OCDP to measure polarization crosstalk, the experimental results show that SNR is achieved 95dB and the polarization crosstalk position accuracy is achieved submicron.
We propose a calibration scheme of the white light interferometer based optical coherence domain polarimetry (OCDP), which could be used to measure the ultra-weak polarization mode crosstalk (PMC) or the ultra-high polarization extinction ratio (PER) of different polarization optical devices. The calibration depends on the first and second order PMC effect of different polarization devices in series. The first and second PMCs between 0 and -90dB, established by five pieces of polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) and a Y-waveguide, is used to prove its feasibility.
In this paper, we propose an improved method of phase generated carrier (PGC) combined with 3×3 coupler to extend dynamic range and compensate low-frequency drift of modulation depth. The small amplitude signal(≤10-2 rad) is figured out by the PGC method to keep the minimum phase resolution and the large amplitude signal(≥10rad) can be calculated by the 3×3 fixed phase difference algorithm to extend the maximum amplitude of the dynamic range. We can get the same result to the signal with the normal amplitude(10-2 rad≤D≤10rad) by any two kinds of methods. Furthermore, the modulation carrier wave amplitude and frequency information can be monitored by the 3×3 auxiliary algorithm to compensate low-frequency drift of modulation depth and keep the system stability as a feedback. According to the result, the interferometer is able to resolve 2.0 ×10-5 rad/√Hz with a dynamic range of 182.2dB@10Hz frequency and 2Mbps sample rates.
In this paper, we present an improved fixed phased demodulation method combined with phase generated carrier (PGC) and ellipse fitting algorithm (EFA) to enhance the phase resolution and suppress the total harmonic distortion (THD) caused by the laser intensity disturbance (LID) of modulation phase. We make the subtraction operation to the outputs of the two 1×2 couplers to get the differential signals without DC offset, which is used to achieve the fixed phase demodulation. The EFA is applied to construct the standard quadrature signals with the two signals. The last output is utilized to finish the small amplitude (<2π rad) demodulation in PGC method, which can increase the phase resolution. The distortion signals caused by the LID effect can be eliminated by the EFA. According to the result, the phase error of the EFA is 0.03rad, the amplitude error is 5% and the phase resolution of system is 2.0×10-6rad/√Hz@1kHz (-106.3dB) with the THD is 5%.
This paper focus on the strain characteristic of the fiber-optic flexural disk accelerometer based on the multilayer sensing fiber coils. The strain state is analyzed in theory, and by using the simulation software, we built the simulation model and obtain the strain distribution of the multilayer sensing fiber coils in different bonding position of the flexural disk. The strain theoretical model agrees well with the strain distribution obtained by the simulation model. According to the results, a flexural disk accelerometer is produced. Experiment results show that the phase sensitivity is 6814rad/g, which is equivalent to the acceleration sensitivity of 15ng/Hz1/2.
A multi optical path generator based on a tunable long Fabry-Perot optical fiber cavity is proposed and demonstrated. It would be used in an optical fiber sensing system which could multiplex a number of fiber sensors with different gauge lengths. Using this optical path generator, we can get a sequence of light beams with different optical paths, which will be coupled to the fiber sensor array in the sensing system. The multi optical path lengths generated by the device are analyzed and discussed. And the relative intensity of the corresponding light beam is calculated. The multiplexing capability caused by the optical path generator is discussed and the experimental results are confirmed this. The system can be used in strain or deformation sensing for smart structure health monitoring.
An optimized phase generated carrier (PGC) demodulation algorithm is proposed for signal demodulation of interferometer. Similar to the traditional PGC algorithm, this optimized algorithm also need to adopt differential cross multiply (DCM), divides the two signals which processed by differential cross-multiplying could get the square of the tangent function of the output phase, output phase can be obtained by the corresponding calculation. The output of the optimization algorithm has no related items of modulated amplitude (C value) and interference signal AC amplitude (B value), therefor the demodulation error caused by C value and B value fluctuation could be suppressed.
A method of simultaneous evaluation for two branches of a multi-functional integrated optic chip (MFIOC) with a dual channel system is proposed. The difference between the two branches of the MFIOC can be tested simultaneously with a high precision. In the system, the chip is used as a 1×2 splitter and its two branches are combined by a 2×2 coupler. The characteristic peaks of the two branches are distinguished by selecting proper length of the extended fibers which connected to each polarization-maintaining (PM) pigtails. Temperature responses of the two branches of the MFIOC are experimented. Results show that the dual channel system can simultaneously measure the characteristics of the two branches of MFIOC with resolution of over -85 dB and dynamic range of 85dB.
We propose a novel optical tweezers for particle trapping with a double-wedged shape tip in the end of a twin-core fiber by polish technique. The polishing setup and procedure are described in detail and the grinding angle θ has a relationship with the angle β between the convergent beams for trapping particles. By calculating, the optimal angle parameter θ and β depend on the surrounding background refractive index.
A method using all-fiber Optical Coherence Domain Polarimetry (OCDP) for polarization performance tests of PM
coupler is presented in this paper. It aims to measure distributed polarization crosstalk of different devices such as
coupler power coupling part, input fiber or output fiber. An all-fiber OCDP system has been built based on white light
interference theory, and the detecting sensitivity of polarization crosstalk and dynamic range are better than 85 dB,
meanwhile, spatial resolution reaches ±5cm. Extinction ratio, the quality of optical path connection in the 2×2 PM
coupler have been measured. The results show that all-fiber OCDP has advantages to lumped extinction ratio test. This
measurement provides an effective testing method for research and development of high-performance PM coupler and
beam splitter.
An all-fiber optical coherence domain polarimetry (OCDP) is presented, which can increase the detection sensitivity and dynamic range simultaneously. An all-fiber OCDP system has been built, and the detecting sensitivity of polarization crosstalk can reach -98dB, meanwhile, the dynamic range can keep in 98dB. This method realizes the highest performance of the date OCDP technology, and provides an effective measurement and evaluation tools for high performance fiber optic devices and sensor system.
Online calibration technique for a long-baseline laser interferometer has been studied, which can be used for nanoscale
displacement and vibration measurement. The method combined laser interferometer calibration with measurement to
meet the needs of online calibration and state detection of long-baseline laser interferometer. Based on Phase Generated
Carrier (PGC) demodulation technique, we add a calibration signal which we have already known to phase-modulated
carrier, and according to the amplitude variations of calibration signal, we can achieve work condition monitoring of
laser interferometer and measurement of environmental changes and the instruction of fluctuations. In the paper, a laser
interferometer with 22-meter-long arm, resolution of 20pm and frequency range of DC ~ 200Hz used for displacement
and vibration measurement was constructed, completed the online calibration software and hardware design,
experimental results show that: by adding a calibration signal with frequency of 400Hz, amplitude 600nm, online
condition monitoring of the laser interferometer can be realized. The advantages of this method is,that it can achieve
online calibration for laser interferometer without increase burden in hardware, simplify the interferometer debugging
process, improve operational efficiency, at the same time, it is of great significance and value to practical application of
long-baseline laser interferometer .
A compact fiber optic Michelson interferometer based accelerometer is proposed and demonstrated. In this sensing
system, two optical fibers have been used as the differential sensing element. By way of demodulating the different
optical phase, we can obtain the acceleration which proportional to the initial force applied on the central position
of the two fibers. A simple model has been built to calculate the sensitivity and resonant frequency. The
experimental results show that such an accelerometer has a sensitivity of 0.42rad/g at the resonant frequency
600Hz.
Based on a cavity length tunable fiber loop resonator, a multi-beam optical path difference is generated. It can
be used to match and correlate the reflective signals from the partial reflective ends of each sensing fiber
gauge. The correlation signals corresponding to the sensing gauge lengths. And the shift of the correlation
peak related with the fiber sensing gauge elongation caused by strain or temperature. Therefore, it can be used
to measure distributed strain or deformation for smart structural monitoring.
A compact in-fiber integrated fiber-optic Michelson interferometer based accelerometer is proposed and investigated. In
this sensing system, the sensing element consists of a twin-core fiber acting as a bending simple supported beam. By
way of demodulating the optical phase shift, we can obtain the acceleration which proportional to the initial force
applied on the central position of the twin-core fiber. A simple model has been established to calculate the sensitivity and
resonant frequency. The experimental results show that such an accelerometer has a sensitivity of 0.09rad/g at the
resonant frequency of 700Hz.
We develop and demonstrate a non-balance Mach-Zehnder autocorrelator based quasi-distributed sensing network. A
three-port optical fiber circulator is used to connect broadband light source, sensor array and autocorrelator, avoiding
reflective light from sensor array reentering into the light source. At detection location, a balanced detection approach is
employed for restraining beat noise of the low coherent interferometric sensing network by respectively connecting two
photodetectors to the two output ports of the Mach-Zehnder autocorrelator. The characteristics of the unidirectional
transmission and differential output detection can at least double the effective efficiency of the light source power. The
optimization and signal-to-noise of the sensing system are theoretically discussed, and a thirteen-sensor network is
experimentally demonstrated. The full-fiber and common-path sensing system with high signal-to-noise is quite suitable
for quasi-distributed measurement of strain and temperature in smart structures.
We propose a simplified common-path autocorrelator based on Fizeau interferometer for quasi-distributed measurement.
A four-port fiber circulator is employed to connect broadband light source, fiber sensor array, Fizeau interferometer and
photodetector, constructing a most simple configuration and common-path between sensing and reference signals. This
common-path configuration of the autocorrelator can greatly reduce the polarization and dispersion mismatch between
sensing and reference signals. The use of circulator can also avoid reflective light from sensor array reentering into light
source, which can improve the stability and efficiency of the autocorrelator. The optimization of the autocorrelator is
theoretically discussed, and a seven-sensor autocorrelator is experimentally demonstrated. The common-path sensing
system is quite suitable for quasi-distributed measurement of strain and temperature in smart structures.
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