Optical frequency domain reflectometry for interrogation of microbend-based optical fiber sensors

S. Gareth Pierce; Alistair MacLean; Brian Culshaw

doi:10.1117/12.388124

12 June 2000 Optical frequency domain reflectometry for interrogation of microbend-based optical fiber sensors

S. Gareth Pierce, Alistair MacLean, Brian Culshaw

Proceedings Volume 3986, Smart Structures and Materials 2000: Sensory Phenomena and Measurement Instrumentation for Smart Structures and Materials; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.388124
Event: SPIE's 7th Annual International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 2000, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

The use of low frequency (sub 20 MHz) incoherent optical frequency domain reflectometry (IOFDR) provides a low cost alternative to the conventional OTDR techniques often used in the interrogation of optical fiber microbend sensors. We have modeled the operation of the IOFDR and experimentally characterized the operation of this technique for monitoring distributed water sensors based on water-swellable polymers (hydrogels). We demonstrate that the IOFDR is capable of detecting and locating sections of increased loss in a graded index multimode optical fiber and discuss the fundamental limits on spatial resolution and range.

Citation Download Citation

S. Gareth Pierce, Alistair MacLean, and Brian Culshaw "Optical frequency domain reflectometry for interrogation of microbend-based optical fiber sensors", Proc. SPIE 3986, Smart Structures and Materials 2000: Sensory Phenomena and Measurement Instrumentation for Smart Structures and Materials, (12 June 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.388124

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available