Novel step-tunable wavelength-swept optical system based on a SSB modulator driven by a RF generator for fiber sensing networks

Tianxin Yang; Changren Qiu; Changle Wang; Zhaoying Wang; Chunfeng Ge; Mei Sang

doi:10.1117/12.907903

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29 February 2012 Novel step-tunable wavelength-swept optical system based on a SSB modulator driven by a RF generator for fiber sensing networks

Tianxin Yang, Changren Qiu, Changle Wang, Zhaoying Wang, Chunfeng Ge, Mei Sang

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Proceedings Volume 8259, RF and Millimeter-Wave Photonics II; 825902 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.907903
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2012, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

High resolution wavelength-tunable lasers are essential to sensing applications. For sensing applications, high resolution is needed to improve the spatial resolution and/or measurement accuracy, and fast tuning (sweeping) is required to enhance the measurement speed for dynamic sensing. However the demand of high resolution conflicts with the requirement of fast continuous wavelength tuning. The solution to this issue is tuning the wavelength of the output in a quasi-continuous way in which the length of each step is dependent on the frequency of a RF generator which is used to drive a single-sideband (SSB) modulator in the wavelength-swept optical system. In this paper, a principle of the step-tunable wavelength-swept optical system is proposed and demonstrated. The two optical features of narrow bandwidth and fairly high optical output power make the system unique for improving the accuracy of the measurement of the center-wavelength of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor. In addition, changing the tuning-step by adjusting the frequency of a RF generator electrically is user-friendly compared to the conventional wavelength swept systems by tuning optical elements mechanically.

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Tianxin Yang, Changren Qiu, Changle Wang, Zhaoying Wang, Chunfeng Ge, and Mei Sang "Novel step-tunable wavelength-swept optical system based on a SSB modulator driven by a RF generator for fiber sensing networks", Proc. SPIE 8259, RF and Millimeter-Wave Photonics II, 825902 (29 February 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.907903

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