Distributed phase-matching measurement for dynamic strain and temperature sensing based on stimulated Brillouin scattering enhanced four-wave mixing

A Brillouin dynamic grating(BDG) can be used for distributed birefringence measurement in optical fibers,offering high sensitivity and spatial resolution for sensing applications.However,it is quite a challenge to simultaneously achieve dynamic measurements with both high accuracy and high spatial resolution.In this work,we propose a sensing mechanism to achieve distributed phase-matching measurement using a chirped pulse as a probe signal.In BDG reflection,the peak reflection corresponds to the highest four-wave mixing(FWM) conversion efficiency,and it requires the Brillouin frequency in the fast and slow axes to be equal,which is called the phase-matching condition.This condition changes at different fiber positions,which requires a range of frequency injection for the probe wave.The proposed method uses a chirped pulse as a probe wave to cover this frequency range associated with distributed birefringence inhomogeneity.This allows us to detect distributed phase matching for birefringence changes that are introduced by temperature and strain variations.Thanks to the single shot and direct time delay measurement capability,the acquisition rate in our system is only limited by the fiber length.Notably,unlike conventional BDG spectrum recovery-based systems,the spatial resolution here is determined by both the frequency chirping rate of the probe pulse and the birefringence profile of the fiber.In the experiments,an acquisition rate of 1 k Hz(up to fiber length limits) and a spatial resolution of 10 cm using a 20 ns probe pulse width are achieved.The minimum detectable temperature and strain variation are 5.6 mK and 0.37 με along a 2 km long polarization-maintaining fiber(PMF).

Unveiling optical rogue wave behavior with temporally localized structures in Brillouin random fiber laser comb

The optical rogue wave(RW),known as a short-lived extraordinarily high amplitude dynamics phenomenon with small appearing probabilities,plays an important role in revealing and understanding the fundamental physics of nonlinear wave propagations in optical systems.The random fiber laser(RFL),featured with cavity-free and“modeless”structure,has opened up new avenues for fundamental physics research and potential practical applications combining nonlinear optics and laser physics.Here,the extreme event of optical RW induced by noise-driven modulation instability that interacts with the cascaded stimulated Brillouin scattering,the quasi-phase-matched four-wave mixing as well as the random mode resonance process is observed in a Brillouin random fiber laser comb(BRFLC).Temporal and statistical characteristics of the RWs concerning their emergence and evolution are experimentally explored and analyzed.Specifically,temporally localized structures with high intensities including chair-like pulses with a sharp leading edge followed by a trailing plateau appear frequently in the BRFLC output,which can evolve to chair-like RW pulses with adjustable pulse duration and amplitude under controlled conditions.This investigation provides a deep insight into the extreme event of RWs and paves the way for RW manipulation for its generation and elimination in RFLs through adapted laser configuration.

Single-shot BOTDA based on an optical chirp chain probe wave for distributed ultrafast measurement

Brillouin optical time-domain analysis(BOTDA)requires frequency mapping of the Brillouin spectrum to obtain environmental information(e.g.,temperature or strain)over the length of the sensing fiber,with the finite frequencysweeping time-limiting applications to only static or slowly varying strain or temperature environments.To solve this problem,we propose the use of an optical chirp chain probe wave to remove the requirement of frequency sweeping for the Brillouin spectrum,which enables distributed ultrafast strain measurement with a single pump pulse.The optical chirp chain is generated using a frequency-agile technique via a fast-frequency-changing microwave,which covers a larger frequency range around the Stokes frequency relative to the pump wave,so that a distributed Brillouin gain spectrum along the fiber is realized.Dynamic strain measurements for periodic mechanical vibration,mechanical shock,and a switch event are demonstrated at sampling rates of 25 kHz,2.5 MHz and 6.25 MHz,respectively.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first demonstration of distributed Brillouin strain sensing with a wide-dynamic range at a sampling rate of up to the MHz level.

Distributed static and dynamic detection of an acoustic wave in a Brillouin random fiber laser

The interaction of random laser and gain medium is important to understand the noise origin in random fiber lasers. Here, using the optical time domain reflectometry method, the time-resolved distributed acoustic wave generated by a Brillouin random fiber laser(BRFL) is characterized. The dynamic property of the acoustic wave reflects the gain dynamics of the BRFL. The principle is based on the polarization-decoupled stimulated Brillouin scattering(SBS)-enhanced four-wave mixing process, where the probe light experiences maximum reflection when the phase match condition is satisfied. Static measurements present exponentially depleted Brillouin gain along the gain medium in the BRFL, indicating the localized random SBS frequency change in the maximum local gain region, which varies with time to contribute random laser noise as revealed in the dynamic measurement. The SBS-induced birefringence change in the Brillouin gain fiber is approximately 10^(-7) to 10^(-6). The phase noise of the BRFL is observed directly inside the random laser gain medium for the first time via time and spatially varied acoustic wave intensity. By counting the temporal intensity statistical distribution, optical rogue waves are detected near the lasing threshold of the BRFL. Different temporal intensity statistical distribution at high and low gain positions is found, which is caused by the SBS nonlinear transfer function and localized gain. The distributed characterization methods in the paper provide a new platform to study the interaction of random lasers and gain medium, giving us a new perspective to understand the fundamental physics of the random lasing process and its noise property.

Effects of polarization on stimulated Brillouin scattering in a birefringent optical fiber

The most general model of elliptical birefringence in an optical fiber has been developed for a steady-state and transient stimulated Brillouin scattering interaction.The impact of the elliptical birefringence is to induce a Brillouin frequency shift and distort the Brillouin spectrum—which varies with different light polarizations and pulsewidths.The model investigates the effects of birefringence and the corresponding evolution of spectral distortion effects along the fiber,providing a valuable prediction tool for distributed sensing applications.

Non-destructive and distributed measurement of optical fiber diameter with nanometer resolution based on coherent forward stimulated Brillouin scattering

Precise control and measurement of the optical fiber diameter are vital for a range of fields,such as ultra-high sensitivity sensing and high-speed optical communication.Nowadays,the measurement of fiber diameter relies on point measurement schemes such as microscopes,which suffer from a tradeoff between the resolution and field of view.Handling the fiber can irreversibly damage the fiber samples,especially when multi-point measurements are required.To overcome these problems,we have explored a novel technique in which the mechanical properties of fibers are reflected by forward stimulated Brillouin scattering(FSBS),from which the diameters can be demodulated via the acoustic dispersion relation.The distributed FSBS spectra with narrow linewidths were recorded via the optimized optomechanical time-domain analysis system using coherent FSBS,thereby achieving a spatial resolution of 1 m over a fiber length of tens of meters.We successfully obtained the diameter distribution of unjacketed test fibers with diameters of 125μm and 80μm.The diameter accuracy was verified by high-quality scanning electron microscope images.We achieved a diameter resolution of 3.9 nm,virtually independent of the diameter range.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first demonstration of non-destructive and distributed fiber diameter monitoring with nanometer resolution.

Improved all-optical OR logic gate based on combined Brillouin gain and loss in an optical fiber

Improved all-optical OR gates are proposed, using a novel fiber nonlinearity-based technique, based on the principles of combined Brillouin gain and loss in a polarization-maintaining fiber （PMF）. Switching contrasts are simulated to be between 82.4%-83.6%, for two respective configurations, and switching time is comparable to the phonon relaxation time in stimulated Brillouin scattering （SBS）.

Characterization of high nonlinearity in Brillouin amplification in optical fibers with applications in fiber sensing and photonic logic

A highly accurate,fully analytic solution for the continuous wave and the probe wave in Brillouin amplification,in lossless optical fibers,is given.It is experimentally confirmed that the reported analytic solution can account for spectral distortion and pump depletion in the parameter space that is relevant to Brillouin fiber sensor applications,as well as applications in photonic logic.The analytic solutions are valid characterizations of Brillouin amplification in both the low and high nonlinearity regime,for short fiber lengths.

Investigation of combined Brillouin gain and loss in a birefringent fiber with applications in sensing

The most general model of elliptical birefringence in an optical fiber is extended to describe a transient Bril-louin interaction including both gain and loss. The effects of elliptical birefringence cause a Brillouin spectral shape distortion, which is detrimental for fiber sensing techniques. The model investigates the effects of bire- fringence and the corresponding evolution of spectral distortion effects along the fiber, and also investigates regimes where this distortion is minimal.

Dispersion Effects of High-Order-Mode Fiber on Temperature and Axial Strain Discrimination

A new approach utilizing effects of dispersion in the high-order-mode fibers （HOMFs） to effectively discriminate changes in environmental temperature and axial strain is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Experimental characterization of a HOMF-based fiber modal interferometer with a sandwich fiber structure exhibits excellent agreements with numerical simulation results. A Fourier transform method of interferometry in the spatial frequency domain is adopted to distinguish mode coupling between different core-guided modes. Distinct phase sensitivities of multiple dispersion peaks are extracted by employing a novel phase demodulation scheme to realize dual-parameter sensing.