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The use of optical fiber sensors is increasing widely in civil, industrial, and military applications mainly due to their, (a) miniature size, (b) high sensitivity, (c) immunity from electro-magnetic interference, (d) resistance to harsh environments, (e) remote signal processing ability, and, (f) multiplexing capabilities. Because of these advantages a variety of optical fiber sensing techniques have evolved over the years having potentials for myriad of applications. One very challenging job, for any of these optical fiber sensing techniques, is to implement a stand alone system with the design and development of all the signal processing models along with the necessary hardware, firmware, and software satisfying the real-time signal processing requirements. In this work we first develop the equations for the system model of the wavelength modulated extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) optical fiber sensor, and then design and build all the hardware and software necessary to implement a stand-a / Ph. D.

The study whose results are presented here was carried out in support of an ongoing larger effort to investigate and understand the impact of coherence and polarization on the performance of instruments intended to monitor the Earth's radiant energy budget. The visibility of fringes produced by a Michelson interferometer is known to be sensitive to the degree to which the incident light beam is monochromatic. Therefore, the Michelson interferometer has significant potential as a tool for quantifying the degree of temporal coherence of a quasi-monochromatic light beam. Simulation of the performance of an optical instrument using the Monte-Carlo ray-trace (MCRT) method has been shown to be an efficient method for transferring knowledge of the coherence state of a beam of light from one instrument to another. The goal of the effort reported here is to create and experimentally validate an MCRT model for the optical performance of a Michelson interferometer. The effort is motivated by the need to consolidate the knowledge and skills of the investigator in the realm of physical optics, and by the need to make a useful analytical tool available to other investigators in the larger effort. / Master of Science

Since the invention of Laser (in 1960) and low loss optical fiber (in 1966) [1], extensive research in fiber-optic sensing technology has made it a well-defined and matured field [1]. The measurement of physical parameters (such as temperature and pressure) in extremely harsh environment is one of the most intriguing challenges of this field, and is highly valued in the automobile industry, aerospace research, industrial process monitoring, etc. [2]. Although the semiconductor based sensors can operate at around 500oC, sapphire fiber sensors were demonstrated at even higher temperatures [3]. In this research, a novel sensor structure is proposed that can measure both pressure and temperature simultaneously. This work effort consists of design, fabrication, calibration, and laboratory testing of a novel structured temperature compensated pressure sensor. The aim of this research is to demonstrate an accurate temperature measurement, and pressure measurement using a composite Fabry-Perot interferometer. One interferometer measures the temperature and the other accurately measures pressure after temperature compensation using the temperature data from the first sensor. / Master of Science

Several techniques for measuring humidity are presented. The goal of the study is to use the electrostatic self-assembled monolayer synthesis process to fabricate a Fabry-Parot Cavity based optical fiber humidity sensor. The sensing scheme bases on the refractive index change with relative humidity of the film applied to the end of optical fiber. That is, the change in reflected optical power indicates certain humidity. To achieve this, some chemicals induce on specific coating materials were applied at the end of optical fiber. In this thesis, experimental results are given to prove that the humidity sensor has high sensitive and fast response time. Furthermore, we investigate the potential for the use of human breathing monitoring and air flow rate detection. Results from preliminary tests of each are given. / Master of Science

The use of optical fiber sensors is increasing widely in industry, civil, medicine, defense and research. Among different categories of these sensors is the Extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) sensor which is inherently simple and requires only modest amount of interface electronics. These advantages make it suitable for many practical applications. Investigating a cost-effective, reliable and repeatable method for optical fiber sensor fabrication is challenging work. In this thesis, a system for controlled fabrication of Fabry-Perot optical fiber sensors is developed and presented as the first attempt for the long-term goal of automated EFPI sensor fabrication. The sensor fabrication control system presented here implements a real-time control of a carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser as sensor bonding power, an optical fiber white light interferometric subsystem for real-time monitoring and measurement of the air gap separation in the Fabry-Perot sensor probe, and real-time control of a piezoelectric (PZT) motion subsystem for sensor alignment. The design of optoelectronic hardware and computer software is included. A large number of sensors are fabricated using this system and are tested under high temperature and high pressure. This system as a prototype system shows the potential in automated sensor fabrication. / Master of Science

Due to their compact size, sensitivity, and ability to be multiplexed, intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometers (IFPIs) are excellent candidates for almost any multi-point temperature or strain application, and it is well-known that using a single-mode lead-in fiber, a multi-mode fiber section as the Fabry-Perot cavity, and an additional single-mode fiber as the tail results in a structure that generates strong interference fringes while remaining robust. Though the basic principles behind these sensors are understood, to the best of the author's knowledge there hasn't been a thorough investigation into the design and fabrication of a chain of multiplexed IFPI sensors for industrial use in an environment where serious issues associated with the size of the test coupon, sensor placement, and mechanical reinforcement of the fiber could arise. This thesis details the preparation and results of this investigation. It turns out that fabricating a sensor chain with appropriate sensor spacing and excellent temperature response characteristics proved a significant challenge, and issues addressed include inter-sensor interference, high-temperature mechanical reinforcement for bare fiber sections, and high bending losses. After overcoming these problems, a final sensor chain was fabricated and characterized. This chain was then subjected to a battery of tests at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), where four multiplexed sensors were installed on a 2â x2â coupon in a simulated gas turbine environment. Final results are presented and analyzed. The work that went into developing this chain lays the foundation for future efforts in developing quasi-distributed temperature sensors by identifying potential obstacles and fundamental limitations for certain approaches. / Master of Science

Interferometric optical fiber sensors have proved many orders of magnitude more sensitive than their electrical counterparts, but they suffer from limitations in signal demodulation caused by phase ambiguity and complex fringe counting when the output phase difference exceeds one fringe period. Various signal demodulation methods have been developed to overcome some of the these drawbacks with limited success. This thesis proposes a new measurement system for the extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) sensor. Using a wavelength modulated source and a novel extended-gap EFPI, some of the limitations of interferometric signal demodulation are overcome. By scanning the output wavelength of a multilongitudinal mode laser diode through current modulation, the EFPI sensor signal is scanned through multiple fringes. Gap movement is then unambiguously determined by monitoring the phase of the multiple fringe pattern. / Master of Science

La conversion de fréquence est une fonction clef présente dans divers contextes, particulièrement dans les systèmes mixtes photoniques-hyperfréquences. Aujourd’hui, la suprématie des réseaux optiques pour le transport de données à haut débit sur de grandes distances incite à l’intégration de telles fonctions dans le domaine optique afin de bénéficier des faibles pertes, larges bandes passantes, faibles poids et tailles propres aux technologies optiques. Dans ce travail, nous étudions un mélangeur tout-optique utilisant un composant SOA-MZI (Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Mach-Zehnder Interferometer) et une technique d’échantillonnage permettant la conversion vers les hautes et les basses fréquences. Le principe du mélange exploite les caractéristiques spectrales d’un signal échantillonné pour lequel des répliques du signal d’origine existent à différentes autres fréquences. Utiliser une telle technique pour la conversion de fréquences offre deux avantages : la conversion vers les hautes et les basses fréquences utilise la même configuration du mélangeur et la fréquence de l’oscillateur local peut être inférieure à la gamme des fréquences visées.L’implémentation d’une telle technique d’échantillonnage nécessite un interrupteur optique contrôlé optiquement.Comme cela est montré dans ce travail, un SOA-MZI peut jouer ce rôle. Selon la phase relative entre ses bras, un interféromètre Mach-Zehnder (MZI) peut transmettre ou non un signal optique d’entrée. En plaçant un SOA dans chaque bras de la structure MZI, la modulation croisée de la phase qui existe au sein d’un SOA est mise à profit pour contrôler l’état de l’interféromètre. Contrôlé par une source impulsionnelle optique, cet interrupteur optique permet d’échantillonner un signal optique porteur de données à modulation complexe. La conversion de fréquence de signaux mono et multi-porteuses dans le domaine 0,5-39,5 GHz a été obtenue avec succès. Par utilisation d’une configuration différentielle du SOA-MZI, des conversions vers les hautes et les basses fréquences jusqu’à un débit de 1 Gb/s ont pu être réalisées. / Frequency mixing is a key function existing in different systems, especially in mixed photonic-microwave ones. Today, the supremacy of optical networks to carry high bitrate data over large distances motivates the optical implementation of such functions to benefit from the low loss, high bandwidth, low size and weight of optical technologies. In this work, we study a photonic mixer based on a SOA-MZI (Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Mach-Zehnder Interferometer) device and a sampling technique allowing both conversion towards high and low frequencies.The involved mixing principle exploits the spectral characteristics of a sampled signal in which replicas of the original spectrum exist at different other frequencies. Basing the frequency conversion on a sampling technique gives two advantages: the photonic mixer configuration is the same for up and down conversions, and the frequency of the local oscillator can be less than the addressed frequency range.The implementation of such a sampling technique needs an optically-controlled high-frequency optical switch. As shown in this work, a SOA-MZI can play this role. Depending on the relative phase between its arms, an interferometric structure (MZI) can transmit or cancel an optical input signal. By locating one SOA in each arm of the MZI structure, the cross-phase modulation that exists inside an SOA is exploited to optically control the optical switch state of the MZI.Controlled by an optical pulse source, this optical switch is able to sample an optical input signal carrying complexmodulated data. Frequency conversions of mono and multi-carrier signals in the range 0.5-39.5 GHz have been successfully achieved. By using a differential configuration of the SOA-MZI, both up and down conversions at bitrates up to 1 Gb/s are reached.

This diploma thesis solves possibilities of utilization optical fiber as sensor. At the beginning, basic division of this sensors is desribed, their principles and usage. Then the thesis is focused on distributed sensors based on the interference of the light, interferometers. This optic fiber interferometers are described, mainly their modifications for detection and localization of vibrations along optical fiber. Significant part of the thesis deals with dual Mach--Zehnder interferometer. This interferometer is theoreticaly desribed and simulated in Matlab. Further the thesis deals with development of two aplication in Matlab software. One application is for simulation and theoretical computation of dual Mach--Zehnder interferometer. Second application serves for signal processing of acquired data that are measured on this interferometer. At the end of the thesis, dual Mach--Zehnder interferometer is designed and build in laboratory enviroment and executed measurement and localization of vibrations using this interferometer.