In-Fiber Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Based on Waist-Enlarged Taper and Core-Mismatching for Strain Sensing

An in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer for strain measurement is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensor consists of a taper followed by a short section of a multi-mode fiber （MMF） and a dispersion com- pensating fiber （DCF）, which is sandwiched between two single mode fibers （SMFs）. The taper is used as a fiber coupler to excite cladding modes in the SMF, and these cladding modes transmit within the MMF and the DCF. The core mode and the cladding modes interfere in the DCF SMF fusion point to form intermodal interference. A well-defined interference spectrum is obtained in the experiment. Selected interference dips are used to measure the strain changes. The experimental results show that this device is sensitive to strain with the wavelength-referenced sensitivity of 2.6 pm/με and the power-referenced sensitivity of 0. 0027 dB/με, respectively.

Temperature-induced effect on refractive index of graphene based on coated in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer

The temperature-induced complex refractive index（CRI） effect of graphene is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally based on a graphene coated in-fiber MZI（Mach-Zehnder interferometer）. The relationships between real and imaginary parts of the graphene CRI and temperature are obtained through investigating the dip wavelength and intensity of the MZI interference spectrum changing with temperature, respectively. The temperature effect of CRI of the graphene is also analyzed theoretically. Both experimental and theoretical studies show that the real part and imaginary part of the CRI nonlinearly decrease and increase with temperature increasing, respectively. This graphene-coated in-fiber MZI structure also possesses the advantages of easy fabrication, miniaturization, low cost and robustness. It has potential applications in nanomaterial-based optic devices for communication and sensing.

Wavelength-tunable mode-locked fiber laser based on an all-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer filter

Wavelength-tunable dissipative solitons and amplifier similaritons have been obtained by inserting all-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer(MZI) filters with different free spectral ranges(FSRs) in a Yb-doped mode-locked fiber laser.The MZI filter is fabricated by splicing one segment of seven-core fiber(SCF) between two segments of single-mode fibers.The bandwidth of the filter depends on the FSR of the modulated interference curve and consequently depends on the tapered fiber diameter.Inserting MZI filters with bandwidths in a fiber laser and applying a tensile strain on the tapered SCF,both wavelengthtunable dissipative solitons and amplifier similaritons have been obtained.

Gain Flattening Filter for Hybrid Sb-Doped EDFA Using All-Fiber Mach-Zehnder Interferometers

We demonstrate a novel gain-flattening filter based on all fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometers for Sb-doped silica hybrid EDFA. A gain flatness of better than 0.9dB has been achieved for three concatenated filters in C-band.

High Sensitive Refractive Index Sensor Based on Cladding Etched Photonic Crystal Fiber Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

A high sensitive refractive index sensor based on the cladding etched photonic crystal fiber (PCF) Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is proposed, which is spliced a section of photonic crystal fiber between two single modes fibers (SMFs).The interference fringe of the MZI shifts with the variation of the ambient refractive index (RI). It is found that the RI sensitivity slightly decrease with an increase in the interference length. The sensitivities of MZI with 35inm PCF, 40mm PCF, and 45mm PCF are 106.19nm/RIU, 93.33nm/RIU, and 73.64nm/RIU, respectively, in the range of 13.33 to 1.381. After etched, the RI sensitivity of the MZI could be improved obviously. The RI sensitivities of the MZI with 35 mm PCF are up to 211.53nm/RIU and 359.37nm/RIU when the cladding diameter decreases to 112(im and 91 pm, respectively. Moreover, the sensor is insensitive to temperature, and the measured sensitivity is only 9.21 pm/℃ with the range from 20℃ to 500℃. In addition, the sensor has advantage of simple fabrication, low cost, and high RI sensitivity.

Simulation of distributed optical fiber disturbance detection system based on Sagnac/Mach-Zehnder interferometer and cross-correlation location

A distributed optical fiber disturbance detection system consisted of a Sagnac interferometer and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer is demonstrated. Two interferometers outputs are connected to an electric band-pass filter via a detector respectively. The central frequencies of the two filters are selected adaptively according to the disturbance frequency. The disturbance frequency is obtained by either frequency spectrum of the two interferometers outputs. An alarm is given out only when the Sagnac interferometer output is changed. A disturbance position is determined by calculating a time difference with a cross-correlation method between the filter output connected to the Sagnac interferometer and derivative of the filter output connected to the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The frequency spectrum, derivative and cross-correlation are obtained by a signal processing system. Theory analysis and simulation results are presented. They show that the system structure and location method are effective, accurate, and immune to environmental variations.

Optical bistability in tunable fiber laser using fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer

In this letter, a novel mechanism of hybrid optical bistability is proposed by using nonlinear mechanism in the frequency domain. This device is based on electro-optical feedback through the fiber Bragg grating on piezoelectric transducer (PZT) to tune continuous wave (CW) fiber laser. The optical bistable characteristics for two manners of separately alternating input power and bias voltage are discussed. The smallest wavelength shift of the order of 0.001 nm needed to realize a switching process in this optical bistability device is estimated. The potential applications of this device in the optical fiber sensor technique are also discussed.

Theoretical Analysis and Experiment of Temperature Stability for Fiber-optic Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Filter

Fiber optic Mach Zehnder interferometer(MZI) can be used as wavelength multiplexers and demultiplexers. The △ L and △ directly influence the properties of MZI. To lengthen the △ L can demultiplex much more wavelengths, but when the △ L is longer, the temperature will influence MZI more seriously. A method to solve this problem is proposed, which enables MZI to work stably. The wavelength distance is 0.8 nm, and the extinction ratio is high.

Ultrafast Laser Fabrication of Novel Fiber Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Sensors and Its Cost-Effective Alternative Manufacturing Methods (Invited Paper)

The recent progresses of fiber sensor fabrication in our group are reviewed.Novel inline fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer(MZI) sensors with various structures are proposed and manufactured by femtosecond laser fabrication and fusion splicing for high-quality sensing of refractivity-sensitive parameters such as temperature,concentration,humidity,pressure,stress and strain: a) for an MZI sensor with a trench on a single-mode fiber,the refractive index(RI) sensitivity of acetone vapor is about 104 nm/RIU(refractive index unit) and the temperature sensitivity is 51.5 pm/℃ from 200 to 875 ℃;b) For an MZI consisting of two micro-air-cavities,the sensitivity is 501.5 nm/RIU and the detection limit is 1.994×10-6 RIU at the refractive index of 1.4;c) to reduce the fabrication cost,a new fusion-splicing based method is proposed to fabricate MZI sensors;the sensitivity is 664.57 nm/RIU with a detection limit of 1.5×10-6 RIU and its cost is tens of times cheaper than those of commercialized long period fiber Gratings;Also,5×10-5 acetone vapors are successfully detected by the MZI sensors coated with zeolite thin films.

Reflective Ladder Topology Network Based on White Light Fiber-Optic Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

In order to improve the multiplexing capability of the optical sensors based on the lower interferential optic fiber sensing technology and the white light fiber-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer,reflective ladder topology network ( RLT) with tailored formula was proposed. The topology network consists of 6 rungs sensing elements linked by 5 couplers. Two cases with different choices of couplers were contrasted: one is equal coupling ratio,and the other is tailored coupling ratio. Through the simulation of these two cases,the detailed multiplexing capability was analyzed,and accordingly the experiments were also carried out. The simulation results showed that,the tailored formula enhances the multiplexing capability of the structure. In the first case, the maximum number of sensors which can be multiplexed is 8,and in the other case is 12 fiber optic sensors. The experimental results have a good agreement with numerical simulation results. Thus,it is considered expedient to incorporate RLT into large-scale building,grounds,bridges,dams,tunnels,highways and perimeter security.

Time-Modulated Hamiltonian for Interpreting Delayed-Choice Experiments via Mach-Zehnder Interferometers

Many delayed-choice experiments based on Mach-Zehnder interferometers （MZI） have been considered and made to address the fundamental problem of wave-particle duality. Conventional wisdom long holds that by inserting or removing the second beam splitter （BS2） in a controllable way, microscopic particles （photons, electrons, etc.） transporting within the MZI can lie in the quantum superposition of the wave and particle state as ψ= aw ψ wave ＋ ap ψ particle. Here we present an alternative interpretation to these delayed-choice experiments. We notice that as the BS2 is purely classical, the inserting and removing operation of the BS2 imposes a time- modulated Hamiltonian H mod （t） = a（t）Hin ＋ b（t）Hout, instead of a quantum superposition of H in and Hour as H = awHin ＋ apHout, to act upon the incident wave function. Solution of this quantum scattering problem, rather than the long held quantum eigen-problem yields a synchronically time-modulated output wave function as ψ mod （t） = a（t） ψ wave ＋b（t） ψ particle, instead of the stationary quantum superposition state ψ = aw ψ wave ＋ ap ψ particle. As a result, the probability of particle output from the MZI behaves as if they are in the superposition of the wave and particle state when many events over time accumulation are counted and averaged. We expect that these elementary but insightful analyses will shed a new light on exploring basic physics beyond the long-held wisdom of wave-particle duality and the principle of complementarity.

Compact temperature-insensitive modulator based on a silicon microring assistant Mach-Zehnder interferometer

On the silicon-on-insulator platform, an ultra compact temperature-insensitive modulator based on a cascaded microring assistant Mach-Zehnder interferometer is proposed and demonstrated with numerical simulation. According to the calculated results, the tolerated variation of ambient temperature can be as high as 134 ℃ while the footprint of such a silicon modulator is only 340 μm2.

An Improved Experiment to Determine the‘Past of a Particle’in the Nested Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

We argue that the modification proposed by Li et al. [Chin. Phys. Lett. 32 （2015）050303] to the experiment of Danan et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111 （2013） 240402] does not test the past of the photon as characterized by local weak traces. Instead of answering the questions： （i） were the photons in A？ （ii） were the photons in B？ and （iii） were the photons in C？ the proposed experiment measures a degenerate operator answering the questions： （i） were the photons in A？ and （ii） were the photons in B and C together？ A negative answer to the last question does not tell us if photons were present in B or C. On the other hand, a simple variation of the proposal by Li et al. does provide conceptually better evidence for the past of the pre- and post-selected photon, but this evidence will be in agreement with the results of Danan et al.

Two-Photon Interference Constructed by Two Hong–Ou–Mandel Effects in One Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

We present a two-photon interference experiment in a modified Mach-Zehnder （MZ） interferometer in which two Hong-Ou-Mandel effects occur in tandem and construct superposed two-photon states. The signal photons pass both the arms of the MZ interferometer while the idler photons pass one arm only. Interestingly, the probability of the idler photons emerging from any output port still shows a sine oscillation with the two-photon phase difference and it can be characterized only by the indistinguishability of the two-photon amplitudes. We also observe a two-photon interference pattern with a period being equal to the wavelength of the parametric photons instead of the two-photon photonie de Broglie wavelength due to the presence of two-photon phase difference, in particular, with complementary probabilities of finding the two-photon pairs in two output ports. The abundant observations can facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the two-photon interference.

An Ideal Experiment to Determine the ’Past of a Particle’ in the Nested Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

An ideal experiment is designed to determine the past of a particle in the nested Mach-Zehnder interferometer （MZI） by using standard quantum mechanics with quantum non-demolition measurements. We find that when the photon reaches the detector, it only follows one arm of the outer interferometer and leaves no trace in the inner MZI. When it goes through the inner MZI, it cannot reach the detector. Our result obtained from the standard quantum mechanics contradicts the statement based on two-state vector formulism, ＇the photon did not enter the （inner） interferometer, the photon never left the interferometer, but it was there＇. Therefore, the statement and also the overlapping claim are incorrect.

Quantitative Visualization of the Thermal Boundary Layer of Forced Convection on a Heated or Cooled Flat Plate with a 30°Leading Edge Using a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

This study focuses on the experimental measurements of the heat transfer coefficient over a flat plate with a 30° leading edge. Under forced convection by a hot/cold air and flow over a cooled/heated flat plate, the thermal boundary layer and its thickness are quantitatively visualized and measured using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. In addition, the variation in the local heat transfer coefficient is evaluated experimentally with respect to the air flow velocity and temperature. Differences within the heat transfer performance between the plates are confirmed and discussed. As a result, the average heat transfer performance is about the same for the heated plate and the cooled plate under all air velocity conditions. This contrasts with the theoretical prediction in the case of low air velocity, the reason considered was that the buoyancy at the 30° leading edge blocked air from flowing across the surface of the plate.

基于Mach-Zehnder干涉仪的自相似激光器压缩系统设计

为了研究自相似脉冲在Mach-Zehnder干涉仪的压缩特性,采用非线性薛定谔方程对自相似脉冲的演化和压缩进行了模拟,分析了基于级联单模光纤的Mach-Zehnder干涉仪的光纤参数对脉冲压缩的影响。结果表明,在不考虑高阶色散的情况下,当上臂的两种单模光纤长度分别为8.16 m和2.16 m、下臂的单模光纤长度为8.16 m时,获得半峰全宽为27.85 fs、峰值功率为1860.59 W、基座能量比例为10.241%的最佳压缩脉冲;考虑高阶色散时,脉冲在单模光纤中传输呈现出峰值功率增大、基座增大的现象,且脉冲右移不利于输出基座较小的压缩脉冲;当3阶色散系数小于0.001 ps^(3)/km时,利用Mach-Zehnder干涉仪来压缩能获得质量较好的飞秒脉冲。该研究结果对于自相似脉冲的压缩研究具有一定的参考价值。

Fiber Optic Moiré Interferometer

A novel fiber optic moiréinterferometer has been developed and demonstrated.A He-Ne laser and three high birefringence fibers were used to configurate a fiber optic interferometer.The moiréfringe patterns formed by the interferometer depend on the arrangement of three fiber ends.The experiment results and the intensity distribution function of the interference patterns are given.

Ultrasonic sensitivity-improved fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer using a beam collimator and its application for ultrasonic imaging of seismic physical models

An ultrasonic sensitivity-improved fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer （FPI） is proposed and employed for ultra- sonic imaging of seismic physical models （SPMs）. The FPI comprises a flexible ultra-thin gold film and the end face of a graded-index multimode fiber （MMF）, both of which are enclosed in a ceramic tube. The MMF in a specified length can collimate the diverged light beam and compensate for the light loss inside the air cavity, leading to an increased spectral fringe visibility and thus a steeper spectral slope. By using the spectral sideband filtering technique, the collimated FP1 shows an improved ultrasonic response. Moreover, two-dimensional images of two SPMs are achieved in air by recon- structing the pulse-echo signals through using the time-of-flight approach. The proposed sensor with easy fabrication and compact size can be a good candidate for high-sensitivity and high-precision nondestructive testing of SPMs.

Optical Fiber Bragg Grating Michelson Interferometer

A new Michelson interferometer based on fiber Bragg grating（FBG） is demonstrated. FBCs are used as reflectors, and the laser is replaced by a broadband source as input light in this interferometer. To demodulate the signals, a 3 × 3 coupler is used as a splitter. By combining with software demodulation, the outer interference can be obtained from the outputs of the interferometer. This kind of interferometer can also be wavelength-multiplexed easily by composing a series Michelson interferometer. The experiment results show that the clear interference fringe can be obtained by adjusting the path difference to make it less than interference length of FBG. The signals are also demodulated.