Reflectometric and interferometric fiber optic sensor’s principles and applications

doi:10.1007/s12200-019-0824-6

Front. Optoelectron.

2019, Vol. 12

Issue (2) : 215-226 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-019-0824-6

REVIEW ARTICLE

Reflectometric and interferometric fiber optic sensor’s principles and applications

Muhammad Noaman ZAHID, Jianliang JIANG(

), Saad RIZVI

School of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China

Download: PDF(605 KB) HTML
Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks

Abstract

Fiber optic sensors have been widely used and studied in recent times. This paper presents operating principles and applications of fiber optic sensors namely reflectometric and interferometric fiber optic sensors. Majority of optical fiber sensors fall under these two broad categories. Both interferometric and reflectometric fiber optic sensors are becoming popular for their ease of use, flexibility, long distance sensing, and potentially noise free detection. Also, these sensors can easily be used in various applications such as structural health monitoring, perimeter intrusion detection, temperature monitoring, and other numerous applications. This paper broadly classifies fiber optic sensors into two subtypes. The paper further highlights different sensors based on their sensing resolution, range, spatial advantages, and applications.

Keywords fiber optic reflectometric interferometric optical fiber sensors sensor applications

Corresponding Author(s): Jianliang JIANG

Online First Date: 08 May 2019 Issue Date: 03 July 2019

Cite this article:

Muhammad Noaman ZAHID,Jianliang JIANG,Saad RIZVI. Reflectometric and interferometric fiber optic sensor’s principles and applications[J]. Front. Optoelectron., 2019, 12(2): 215-226.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/10.1007/s12200-019-0824-6
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/Y2019/V12/I2/215

Fig.1 Block diagram of intrinsic sensors

Fig.2 Block diagram of extrinsic sensors. OTDR: optical time domain reflectometry; BOTDR: Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry; F-OTDR: phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry

Fig.3 Block diagram of interferometric sensors

Fig.4 Configuration of OTDR system

Fig.5 Configuration of BOTDR

Fig.6 Configuration of F-OTDR

Fig.7 Interferometer response

Fig.8 Sagnac interferometer configuration

Fig.9 Mach-Zhender interferometers configuration

Fig.10 Michelson interferometer configuration

Fig.11 Michelson interferometer configuration

Fig.12 OCT instrument using Michelson interferometer configuration

Fig.13 Michelson interferometer configuration using optical power divider. PM: phase modulator

Fig.14 Fabry-Perot configuration

Tab.1 Summary of reflectometric and interferometric fiber optic sensors

1	X Bévenot, A Trouillet, C Veillas, H Gagnaire, M Clément. Hydrogen leak detection using an optical fibre sensor for aerospace applications. Sensors and Actuators. B, Chemical, 2000, 67(1–2): 57–67 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-4005(00)00407-X
2	I B Kwon, S J Baik, K Im, J W Yu. Development of fiber optic BOTDA sensor for intrusion detection. Sensors and Actuators A, Physical, 2002, 101(1-2): 77–84 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-4247(02)00184-X
3	H Guo, G Xiao, N Mrad, J Yao. Fiber optic sensors for structural health monitoring of air platforms. Sensors (Basel), 2011, 11(4): 3687–3705 https://doi.org/10.3390/s110403687 pmid: 22163816
4	T G Gaillorenzi. Optical fiber sensor technology. IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1982, 8: 626–660
5	R C Spooncer. Fiber optics in instrumentation. In: Sydenham P H, Thorn R, eds. Handbook of Measurement Science. Chichester: Wiley, 1992
6	E Udd. Fiber Optic Sensors. New York: Wiley, 1991
7	D Marcuse. Principle of Optical Fiber Measurements. New York: Academic Press, 1981, Chap. 5
8	M K Barnoski, S M Jensen. Fiber waveguides: a novel technique for investigating attenuation characteristics. Applied Optics, 1976, 15(9): 2112–2115 https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.15.002112 pmid: 20165347
9	B Shi, H Sui, J Liu, D Zhang. The BOTDR based distribution monitoring system for slope engineering. In: Culshaw M G, Reeves H J, Jefferson I, Spink T W, eds. Engineering Geology for Tomorrow’s cities. London: Geological Society, 2009
10	N Yasue, H Naruse, J Masuda, H Kino, T, Nakamura R. YamauraConcrete pipeline strain measurement using optical fiber sensor. IEICE Transactions on Electronics, 2000, 83(3): 468–474.
11	T Kurashima , T Horiguchi, H Izumita, S I Furukawa, Y Koyamada, Brillouin optical-fiber time domain reflectometry. IEICE Transactions on Communications, 1993. E76-B(4), 382–390
12	J Park, W Lee, H F Taylor. A fiber optic intrusion sensor with the configuration of an optical time domain reflectometer using coherent interference of Rayleigh backscattering. Proceedings of the Society for Photo-Instrumentation Engineers, 1998, 3555: 49–56 https://doi.org/10.1117/12.318220
13	H J Wu, Z N Wang, F Peng, Z P Peng, X Y Li, Y Wu, Y J Rao. Field test of a fully distributed fiber-optic intrusion detection system for long-distance security monitoring of national borderline. In: Proceedings of 23rd International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors, Santander, Spain, 2014
14	J C Juarez, E W Maier, K N Choi, H F Taylor. Distributed fiber-optic intrusion sensor system. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 2005, 23(6): 2081–2087 https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2005.849924
15	L Thévenaz. Review and progress on distributed fiber sensing. In: Optical Fiber Sensors. OSA Technical Digest (Optical Society of America), Cancun Mexico, 2006, ThC1
16	T Zhu, Q He, X Xiao, X Bao. Modulated pulses based distributed vibration sensing with high frequency response and spatial resolution. Optics Express, 2013, 21(3): 2953–2963 https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.21.002953 pmid: 23481753
17	H F Martins, S Martin-Lopez, P Corredera, P Salgado, O Frazão, M González-Herráez. Modulation instability-induced fading in phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry. Optics Letters, 2013, 38(6): 872–874 https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.38.000872 pmid: 23503244
18	H Wu, Z Wang, F Peng, Z Peng, X Li, Y Wu, Y Rao. Field test of a fully-distributed fiber-optic intrusion detection system for long-distance security monitoring of national borderline. Proceedings of the Society for Photo-Instrumentation Engineers, 2014, 9157: 915790–915791 https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2058504
19	N Duan, F Peng, Y Rao, J Du, Y Lin. Field test for real-time position and speed monitoring of trains using phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (F-OTDR). Proceedings of the Society for Photo-Instrumentation Engineers, 2014, 9157: 1–4 https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2059188
20	Z N Wang, J J Zeng, J Li, M Q Fan, H Wu, F Peng, L Zhang, Y Zhou, Y J Rao. Ultra-long phase-sensitive OTDR with hybrid distributed amplification. Optics Letters, 2014, 39(20): 5866–5869 https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.39.005866 pmid: 25361105
21	J C Juarez, E W Maier, K N, Choi H F Taylor. Distributed fiber-optic intrusion sensor system. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 2005, 23(6): 2081–2087 https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2005.849924
22	J C Juarez, H F Taylor. Field test of a distributed fiber-optic intrusion sensor system for long perimeters. Applied Optics, 2007, 46(11): 1968–1971 https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.46.001968 pmid: 17384709
23	F Peng, X. Cao A hybrid phi/B-OTDR for simultaneous vibration and strain measurement. Photonics Sensors, 2016, 6(2): 121–126
24	X Bao, L Chen. Recent progress in optical fiber sensors based on Brillouin scattering at University of Ottawa. Photonic Sensors, 2011, 1(2): 102–117 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13320-011-0026-3
25	X Liu, C Wang, Y Shang, H. Wang Distributed acoustic sensing with Michelson interferometer demodulation. Photonics Sensors, 2017, 7(3): 193–198
26	J Ma, Y Yu, W Jin. Demodulation of diaphragm based acoustic sensor using Sagnac interferometer with stable phase bias. Optics Express, 2015, 23(22): 29268–29278 https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.23.029268 pmid: 26561196
27	F Lv, C Han, H Ding, Z, Wu X. Li Magnetic field sensor based on microfiber Sagnac loop interferometer and ferrofluid. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2015, 27(22): 2327–2330
28	K Wada, H Narui, D Yamamoto, T Matsuyama, H Horinaka. Balanced polarization maintaining fiber Sagnac interferometer vibration sensor. Optics Express, 2011, 19(22): 21467–21474 https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.19.021467 pmid: 22108996
29	E J Post. Sagnac effect. Reviews of Modern Physics, 1967, 39(2): 475–493 https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.39.475
30	H J Arditty, H C Leèfovre. Sagnac effect in fiber gyroscopes. Optics Letters, 1981, 6(8): 401–403 https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.6.000401 pmid: 19701446
31	A D Kersey, A Dandridge, W K Burns. Two-wavelength fibre gyroscope with wide dynamic range. Electronics Letters, 1986, 22(18): 935–937 https://doi.org/10.1049/el:19860637
32	B Y Kim, H C Lefevre. Harmonic feedback approach to fiber optic gyro scale factor stabilization. In: Proceedings of IEEE Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors, 1983, 136
33	F Aronowitz. The Laser Gyro. In: Ross M, ed. Laser Applications. New York: Academic Press,113–200
34	W W Chow, J Gea-Banacloche, L M Pedrotti, V E Sanders, W Schleich, M O Scully. The ring laser gyro. Reviews of Modern Physics, 1985, 57(1): 61–104 https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.57.61
35	S Ezekiel, H J Arditty, eds. Fiber-Optic Rotation Sensors, Springer Series in Optical Sciences, vol. 32. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1982
36	R F Cahill, E Udd. Phase-nulling fiber-optic laser gyro. Optics Letters, 1979, 4(3): 93–95 https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.4.000093 pmid: 19687811
37	K P Koo, G H Sigel. A fiber optic magnetic gradiometer. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 1983, 1(3): 509–513 https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.1983.1072145
38	A B Tveten, A Dandridge, C M Davis, T G Giallorenzi. Fiber optic accelerometer. Electronics Letters, 1980, 16(22): 854 https://doi.org/10.1049/el:19800607
39	X Z Ding, H Z Yang, X G Qiao, P Zhang, O Tian, Q Z Rong, N A M Nazal, K S Lim, H Ahmad. Mach-Zehnder interferometric magnetic field sensor based on a photonic crystal fiber and magnetic fluid. Applied Optics, 2018, 57(9): 2050–2056 https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.57.002050 pmid: 29603992
40	M C Miller. Gravitational waves: dawn of a new astronomy. Nature, 2016, 531(7592): 40–42 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature17306
41	S J Riederer. Current technical development of magnetic resonance imaging. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, 2000, 19(5): 34–41 https://doi.org/10.1109/51.870229 pmid: 11016028
42	Fujimoto J G, Pitris C, Boppart S A, Brezinski M E. Optical coherence tomography: an emerging technology for biomedical imaging and optical biopsy. Neoplasia, 2000, 2(1): 9–25 pmid: 10933065
43	M J Maciel, C G Costa, M F Silva, A C Peixoto, R F Wolffenbuttel, J H Correia. A wafer-level miniaturized Michelson interferometer on glass substrate for optical coherence tomography applications. Sensors and Actuators A, Physical, 2016, 242: 210–216 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2016.03.007
44	M Imai, T Ohashi, Y Ohashi. Fiber-optic michelson interference using an optical power divider. Optics letters, 1980, 5(10): 418–420 https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.5.000418
45	J A Bucaro, H D Dardy, E F Carome. Fiber-optic hydrophone. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1977, 62(5): 1302–1304 https://doi.org/10.1121/1.381624
46	M Corke, A D Kersey, D A Jackson, J D C Jones. All fibre Michelson thermometer. Electronics Letters, 1983, 19(13): 471 https://doi.org/10.1049/el:19830320
47	N Zhao, H Fu, M Shao, X Yan, H Li, Q Liu, H Gao, Y Liu, X Qiao. High temperature probe sensor with high sensitivity based on Michelson interferometer. Optics Communications, 2015, 343: 131–134 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optcom.2014.12.012
48	S Petuchowski, T Giallorenzi, S Sheem. A sensitive fiber-optic fabry-perot interferometer. IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1981, 17(11): 2168–2170 https://doi.org/10.1109/JQE.1981.1070682
49	J Stone. Optical-fibre fabry-perot interferometer with finesse of 300. Electronics Letters, 1985, 21(11): 504–505 https://doi.org/10.1049/el:19850357
50	W Xia, C Li, H Hao, Y Wang, X Ni, D Guo, M Wang. High-accuracy vibration sensor based on a Fabry-Perot interferometer with active phase-tracking technology. Applied Optics, 2018, 57(4): 659–665 https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.57.000659 pmid: 29400728
51	Q Zhang, T Zhu, Y Hou, K Chiang. All-fiber vibration sensor based on a Fabry Perot interferometer and a microstructure beam. Journal of the Optical Society of America B, Optical Physics, 2013, 30(5): 1211–1215 https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.30.001211
52	J A Bucaro, H D Dardy, E Carome. Fiber optic hydrophone. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1977, 62(5): 1302–1304 https://doi.org/10.1121/1.381624
53	A Dandridge, A B Tveten, G H Sigel, E J West, T G Giallorenzi. Optical fiber magnetic field sensor. Electronics Letters, 1980, 16(11): 408 https://doi.org/10.1049/el:19800285
54	K P Koo, G H Sigel. An electric field sensor utilizing a piezoelectric PVF2 film in a single-mode fiber interferometer. IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1982, 18(4): 670–675 https://doi.org/10.1109/JQE.1982.1071604
55	A Dandridge, A B Tveten, T G Giallorenzi. Interferometric current sensor using optical fibres. Electronics Letters, 1981, 17(15): 523–525 https://doi.org/10.1049/el:19810366
56	J A Bucaro, N Lagakos, J H, Cole T G Giallorenzi. Fiber optic acoustic transduction. Physical Acoustics, 1982, 16(C): 385–457 https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-477916-7.50012-4
57	C A Wade, A Dandrige. Fibre-optic coriolis mass flowmeter for liquids. Electronics Letters, 1988, 24(13): 783–785 https://doi.org/10.1049/el:19880532
58	T Kurashima, T Horiguchi, N Yoshizawa, H Tada, M Tateda. Measurement of distributed strain due to laying and recovery of submarine optical fiber cable. Applied Optics, 1991, 30(3): 334–337 https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.30.000334 pmid: 20581987
59	T Kurashima, K Hogari, S Matsuhashi, T Horiguchi, Y Koyamada, Y Wakui, H Hirano. Measurement of distributed strain in frozen cables and its potential for use in predicting cable failure. In: Proceedings of International Wire & Cable Symposium Proceedings, 1994, 593602
60	L Thevenaz. Monitoring of large structure using distributed Brillouin fiber sensing. In: Proceedings of 13th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors, Korea, 1999, 345–348 https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2302136
61	H Ohno, H Naruse, M Kihara, A Shimada. Industrial applications of the BOTDR optical fiber strain sensor. Optical Fiber Technology, 2001, 7(1): 45–64 https://doi.org/10.1006/ofte.2000.0344
62	H Wu, Z Wang, F Peng, Z Peng, X Li, Y Wu, Y Rao. Field test of a fully-distributed fiber-optic intrusion detection system for long-distance security monitoring of national borderline. Proceedings of the Society for Photo-Instrumentation Engineers, 2014, 9157: 915790–915791 https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2058504
63	N Duan, F Peng, Y Rao, J Du, Y Lin. Field test for real-time position and speed monitoring of trains using phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (F-OTDR). Proceedings of the Society for Photo-Instrumentation Engineers, 2014, 9157: 1–4
64	F Peng, H Wu, X H Jia, Y J Rao, Z N Wang, Z P Peng. Ultra-long high-sensitivity F-OTDR for high spatial resolution intrusion detection of pipelines. Optics Express, 2014, 22(11): 13804–13810 https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.22.013804 pmid: 24921572
65	J Tejedor, H F Martins, D Piote, J Macias-Guarasa, J Pastor-Graells, S Martin-Lopez, P C Guillén, F De Smet, W Postvoll, M González-Herráez. Toward prevention of pipeline integrity threats using a smart fiber-optic surveillance system. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 2016, 34(19): 4445–4453 https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2016.2542981
66	Q Sun, H Feng, X Yan, Z Zeng. Recognition of a phase-sensitivity OTDR sensing system based on morphologic feature extraction. Sensors (Basel), 2015, 15(7): 15179–15197 https://doi.org/10.3390/s150715179 pmid: 26131671
67	F Peng, N Duan, Y Rao, J Li. Real-time position and speed monitoring of trains using phase-sensitive OTDR. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2014, 26(20): 2055–2057 https://doi.org/10.1109/LPT.2014.2346760
68	D J Bradley, B Bates, C O L Juulman, T Kohno. Recent developments in the application of the fabry-perot interferometer to space research. Journal de Physique Colloques, 1967, 28 (C2): 280–286 https://doi.org/10.1051/jphyscol:1967253
69	R Mehra, H Shahani, A Khan. Mach Zehnder Interferometer and its Applications. IJCA Proceedings on National Seminar on Recent Advances in Wireless Networks and Communications, 2014, NWNC (1): 31–36
70	D Van-Pham, M Nguyen, H Nakanishi, T Norisuye, Q Tran-Cong-Miyata. Applications of Mach-Zehnder interferometry to studies on local deformation of polymers under photocuring. In: Banishev A, Wang J, Bhowmick, eds. Optical Interferometry. London: IntechOpen, 2017, 25–39 https://doi.org/10.5772/66955
71	R J Markovich, C Pidgeon. Introduction to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and applications in the pharmaceutical sciences. Pharmaceutical Research, 1991, 8(6): 663–675 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015829412658 pmid: 2062795

[1]	Yanjun ZHANG,Jinrui XU,Xinghu FU,Jinjun LIU,Yongsheng TIAN. Hybrid algorithm combining genetic algorithm with back propagation neural network for extracting the characteristics of multi-peak Brillouin scattering spectrum[J]. Front. Optoelectron., 2017, 10(1): 62-69.
[2]	Wei JIN, Jian JU, Hoi Lut HO, Yeuk Lai HOO, Ailing ZHANG. Photonic crystal fibers, devices, and applications[J]. Front Optoelec, 2013, 6(1): 3-24.
[3]	Sigang YANG, Kenneth K. Y. WONG, Minghua CHEN, Shizhong XIE. Fiber optical parametric oscillator based on highly nonlinear dispersion-shifted fiber[J]. Front Optoelec, 2013, 6(1): 25-29.
[4]	Bingrong ZOU, Yu YU, Wenhan WU, Shoujin HU, Zheng ZHANG, Xinliang ZHANG. All-optical format conversion from RZ-QPSK to NRZ-QPSK[J]. Front Optoelec, 2012, 5(3): 330-333.
[5]	Tianzhi LE, Baojian WU, Feng WEN, Kun QIU. Magnetic tunability of fiber optical parametric oscillators with optical clock extraction[J]. Front Optoelec Chin, 2011, 4(3): 325-329.
[6]	Yunpeng FENG, Xiaoyan QIAO, Haobo CHENG, Yongfu WEN, Ya GAO, Huijing ZHANG. Method of optical interference testing error separation[J]. Front Optoelec Chin, 2010, 3(4): 382-386.
[7]	Liang ZHAO, Junqiang SUN, Zhefeng HU, Qian HU, Yujie ZHOU, Jing SHAO, Tianye HUANG, Jun LI, . Theoretical demonstration for signal gain in multiple four-wave mixing processes based on cubic susceptibility medium[J]. Front. Optoelectron., 2010, 3(3): 270-282.
[8]	Yongzhao XU, Zhixin CHEN, Hongtao LI, Yanfen WEI. Tapered photonic crystal fiber for supercontinuum generation in telecommunication windows[J]. Front Optoelec Chin, 2009, 2(3): 293-298.
[9]	Shigang ZHAO, Xue WANG, Libo YUAN. Four-core fiber-based bending sensor[J]. Front Optoelec Chin, 2008, 1(3-4): 231-236.
[10]	GUO Tuan, ZHAO Qida, LIU Lihui, HUANG Guiling, XUE Lifang, LI Guoyu, LIU Bo, ZHANG Weigang, KAI Guiyun, YUAN Shuzhong, DONG Xiaoyi. Light intensity-referred and temperature-insensitive fiber Bragg grating dynamic pressure sensor[J]. Front. Optoelectron., 2008, 1(1-2): 113-118.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed