Bragg Grating Tuning Techniques for Interferometry Applications

This study investigates the influence of lay-up and load direction on embedded optical fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) used as strain sensors. FBGs have shown great promise for application to structural health monitoring with advantages of small size and cylindrical geometry readily allowing for embedment within fiber reinforced composites. Characterization of the embedded FBGs is necessary to develop a rugged and reliable strain sensor. This paper specifically explores the effects of loading direction on the FBG strain outputs. A well behaved baseline case is established with results for gratings loaded parallel to the optical fiber direction while embedded parallel to the adjacent structural fibers in a quasi-isotropic composite. Results and analysis are also presented for a case involving a composite fabricated with the optical and structural fibers parallel to each other but perpendicular to the loading direction. Extremely good results are obtained relating FBG strain measurements with that of surface mounted resistance strain gauges.

Optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors have significant potential for use as embedded devices to monitor the structural integrity of engineering materials. The main drawback of the FBG strain sensor is its cross-sensitivity to temperature. This paper reports a simple scheme for multiplexing a FBG and an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) sensor to enable the decoupling of strain from temperature. The EFPI sensor was constructed using a precision bore quartz capillary tube which housed two cleaved optical fibers. The gap between the fiber end- faces served as the Fabry-Perot cavity. Since the coefficients of thermal expansion between the optical fiber and the capillary tube were similar, the EFPI sensor has a very low sensitivity towards temperature. Therefore, when both sensors are placed close together, the EFPI sensor can act as the strain sensor, and temperature can be determined from the FBG wavelength shift after taking out the strain effect. The signal processing for the EFPI sensor was based on a channelled spectrum method using a CCD spectrometer. The same CCD spectrometer was also used to determine the wavelength shift of the FBG. The cross-talk between the EFPI and FBG sensors was evaluated. The feasibility of conducting simultaneous strain and temperature measurements was demonstrated.

The article describes process of implementation of optical Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors into the composite wing structure and their behavior during the strength test. The wing is of all-composite construction. The upper and lower skins are made of glass/epoxy composite. The spar caps are made of carbon/epoxy unidirectional composite. Optical fibers were integrated directly into the spar caps and into the adhesive joints. They were oriented in parallel with the main spar axis. The first optical fiber with chain of multiple FBG sensors was integrated into the structure of upper spar cap. Another FBG chain of FBG sensors was located in the adhesive joint of lower spar cap and shear web. The wing was instrumented with strain gages as well. Strain gages were glued to the sides of the spar caps. Static load was produced by a hydraulic actuator. Experimental results from strain gages and FBG sensors were compared with the results of the analytical analysis of the wing.

We present an efficient coherent source widely tunable in the mid-infrared spectral range consisting of a commercial picosecond Yb-fiber laser operating at 80 MHz repetition rate, a synchronously-pumped OPO (SPOPO) and differencefrequency generation (DFG) in AgGaSe 2 . With an average input pump power of 7.8 W at 1032 nm and at 80 MHz, the SPOPO outputs are tunable from 1380 to 1980 nm (Signal) and from 2.1 to ~4 μm (Idler) with pulse durations between 2.1 and 2.6 ps over the entire tuning range. After temporally overlapping Signal and Idler through a delay line, the two beams are spatially recombined with a dichroic mirror (reflecting for the Signal in s-polarization and transmitting for the Idler in p-polarization), and focused by a 150 mm CaF 2 lens to a common focus. For DFG we employ an AR-coated 10- mm thick AgGaSe 2 nonlinear crystal cut for type-I interaction at θ =52°. The generated mid-infrared picosecond pulses are continuously tunable between 5 and 18 μm with average power up to 130 mW at 6 μm and more than 1 mW at 18 μm. Their spectra and autocorrelation traces are measured up to 15 μm and 11 μm, respectively, and indicate that the input spectral bandwidth and pulse duration are maintained to a great extent in the nonlinear frequency conversion processes. The pulse duration slightly decreases from 2.1 to 1.9 ps at 6.7 μm while the spectral bandwidth supports ~1.5 ps (~10 cm -1 )durations across the entire mid-infrared tuning range. For the first time narrow-band mid-infrared pulses with energy exceeding 1 nJ are generated at such high repetition rates.

During last decades, sensor elements based on the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) have been widely studied and developed due to the advantages of immunity to electromagnetic interference, compact size, high precision, and so on. The FBG itself is sensitive to axial strain and temperature variation directly and can indirectly measure these complex physical parameters, such as pressure, displacement, and vibration, by using some specially designed elastic structures to convert them into the axial strain of the FBG. Whether the FBG is fixed on the measured object to measure the strain directly or fixed on an elastic structure body to measure other physical quantities, these types of FBGs could be collectively called as strain sensing FBGs. The packaging of the FBG has important influence on FBG characteristics that directly affect the measurement accuracy, such as strain transfer, temperature characteristic, and spectral shape. This paper summarizes the packaging methods and corresponding temperature compensation methods of the currently reported strain sensing FBGs, focusing especially on fully pasted FBG, pre-stretched FBG with double-end fixed, and metallic packaging. Furthermore, the advantages and drawbacks of different packaging methods have been analyzed, which can provide a reference for future researches.

The intensity noise and mode-locking phenomena of a hybrid soliton pulse source (HSPS) utilising different fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs) with or without linear chirp are described. The HSPS is modelled by a time-domain solution of the coupled-mode equations including spontaneous emission noise, and relative intensity noise (RIN) is calculated using numerical solutions of these equations. It is found that a noise peak in the RIN spectrum does not occur at the inverse of the round-trip time in the compound cavity for unchirped FBGs not giving transform-limited pulses around the fundamental mode-locking frequency. A noise peak occurs at the inverse of the round-trip time in the compound cavity for chirped FBGs generating transform-limited pulses over a wide tuning range around the fundamental mode-locking frequency. It is also found that the proper mode-locking range over which transform-limited pulses are obtained reduces for chirped FBGs with increasing noise, whereas generated transform-limited pulses for unchirped FBGs do not depend on the magnitude of noise and these FBGs can give transform-limited pulses only over a limited tuning range with low and high noise.

We demonstrate a high power erbium-ytterbium co-doped large-core fiber laser with narrow linewidth, an M² value of 1.7 and a broad tuning range. The fiber was cladding-pumped by a diode stack emitting at 975 nm. The laser had a linewidth around 0.16 nm and was tuned from 1533 nm to 1566 nm by compression-tuning a fiber Bragg grating. Output powers in excess of 30 W were obtained over the entire laser tuning range which was limited by the low gain at wavelengths shorter than 1533 nm and by the grating fabrication wavelength at 1566 nm. The laser slope efficiency was ~30% and the threshold ~3.3 W. Our results underline the capability for efficient, broad-band, high-power operation of large-core Er-Yb doped fibers and demonstrate compatibility with telecom components like standard single-mode fibers and fiber Bragg gratings.

The measurement of the internal deformations occurring in real-life composite components is a very challenging task, especially for those components that are rather difficult to access. Optical fiber sensors can overcome such a problem, since they can be embedded in the composite materials and serve as in situ sensors. In this article, embedded optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are used to analyze the vibration characteristics of two real-life composite components. The first component is a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer automotive control arm; the second is a glass fiber-reinforced polymer aeronautic hinge arm. The modal parameters of both components were estimated by processing the FBG signals with two interrogation techniques: the maximum detection and fast phase correlation algorithms were employed for the demodulation of the FBG signals; the Peak-Picking and PolyMax techniques were instead used for the parameter estimation. To validate the FBG outcomes, reference measurements were performed by means of a laser Doppler vibrometer. The analysis of the results showed that the FBG sensing capabilities were enhanced when the recently-introduced fast phase correlation algorithm was combined with the state-of-the-art PolyMax estimator curve fitting method. In this case, the FBGs provided the most accurate results, i.e., it was possible to fully characterize the vibration behavior of both composite components. When using more traditional interrogation algorithms (maximum detection) and modal parameter estimation techniques (Peak-Picking), some of the modes were not successfully identified.

This study proposes a novel optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based load cell sensor using 3-D printing technology. It explores the impact of the infill density and pattern on the FBG’s temperature and mechanical strain sensitivity. Two FBGs were used, one for strain measurement, FBG L, and the other for temperature compensation, FBG T. Conducted measurements show that the strain-sensitive FBG L and strain-free FBG T exhibited a similar average temperature sensitivity value of around 10.5 pm/°C with a good linearity value of 99.92%. This will also allow the unstrained FBG T to effectively compensate for FBG L’s temperature changes during load measurement. Under varied load conditions, load cell sensors with lower infill density, such as 20%, displayed more significant average wavelength shift and increased strain sensitivities compared to those with higher infill density, such as 80%, due to having more voids and hollow sections within its actuator. This facilitates easier deformation, thus inducing more significant stretching on FBG L. Regarding the infill pattern, the gyroid pattern outperformed the tri-hexagon in both average wavelength shift and strain responses, showing its suitability for precise measurements under diverse loads. Therefore, this work demonstrates the critical role of the infill density and pattern in the performance of an efficient load cell sensor using FBGs.

Optical fibres (OF) with inscribed arrays of fibre Bragg gratings (AFBG) are interesting for different types of fibre devices such as a fibre sensors and fibre lasers and optical signal management. The most advanced method of manufacturing such AFBG is to write them directly in-line during the fibre drawing process. This gives the possibility of making a huge number of fibre Bragg gratings (FBG) in a single OF. The parameters of these AFBG could be constant or variable along the OF length. We present results of an investigation AFBG produced during fibre drawing process. Typical parameters of such AFBG are: working wavelength into 1550 nm band, spectral width 0.2mm (3dB level), reflective contrast (excess to Rayleigh backscattering level) up to 45 dB. We use polymer or aluminum as AFBG coating. AFBG can be written either in single or multi core preforms. OF with fibre Bragg gratings A(FBG) arrays written over a long length and in-line metal coating have been made for the first time. The optical parameters of the FBG arrays are tested by the optical frequency domain reflectometer method in a wide temperature range, demonstrating no degradation in reflection at heating up to 600C for a fibre with Al coating. Moreover, array of metal coated FBG can not be erased thermally. The mechanical strength of the developed fibre is practically the same as for “ordinary” OF with similar coating, showing the absence of the influence of FBG writing process on fibre strength. Some possibilities of the developed AFBG use in advanced sensor systems with special resolution about 10 mm, Brillouin random fibre laser with linewidth less 40 kHz are considered.

The field of communications has been revolutionized by the advent of optical fiber. Optical fiber now connects most of the world carrying a vast amount of information through a very limited physical medium. To the materials engineer, optical fiber technology has stimulated interest in a new type of micro-sensor application, where the size, weight, and the ability to integrate the sensor into a material structure play a major role. Areas of interest currently include materials characterization, cure monitoring, and structural health monitoring. The fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is such a sensor technology, creating an optical strain gauge within the core of an optical fiber through the use of a wavelength specific filter. As the FBG experiences induced strain along its major axis, its light signal indicates the amount of strain with great accuracy and sensitivity. In FBG applications, where loading may occur in all directions, complex changes take place in the FBG signal. As these changes impact the usefulness of the FBG as a strain sensor, this thesis endeavors to study and demonstrate the effect of transverse load on the FBG structure. A review of the basics of optical fiber fabrication, light transmission, and optical fiber sensor technology is presented first, followed by a detailed discussion of the FBG's manufacturing and operation. The crux of the thesis is presented with the results of experiments conducted to characterize the FBG signal in both unloaded and transversely loaded configurations. Polarization and wavelength based experiments and analyses are conducted to detect changes in the FBG signal. The results of the study are used to propose cause and effect relationships between transverse loading, its effect on the material properties of the FBG, and changes in the FBG signal.

In this paper, the development of loop mirror multi-wavelength Brillouin fiber laser utilizing semiconductor optical amplifier and fiber Bragg grating is successfully demonstrated. A multi-wavelength BFL structure employs a single mode fiber that acts as the gain medium, while the fiber Bragg grating act to reflect the signals and semiconductor optical amplifier is used to amplify the signal are employed to produce multiple channels. The implementation of difference parameter for semiconductor optical amplifier driven current, Brillouin pump power, Brillouin pump wavelength and length of single mode fiber, plays an important role in producing the multiple channels. The highest number of channels which is 15 achieved once 9 km of SMF length, semiconductor optical amplifier current at 800mA and low Brillouin pump power at -12 dBm are utilized in the laser structure. Furthermore, the implementation of semiconductor optical amplifier and reflectivity of fiber Bragg grating in Brillouin fiber laser structure gives a better performance in producing the multiple channels.

This study reports on signal recovery of optical fiber Bragg gratings embedded in a carbon fiber composite overwrapped pressure vessel's (COPV) structure which have become chirped due to microcracks. COPVs are commonly used for the storage of high pressure liquids and gases. They utilize a thin metal liner to seal in contents, with a composite overwrap to strengthen the vessel with minimal additional mass. A COPV was instrumented with an array of surface mounted and embedded fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) for structural health monitoring (SHM) via strain sensing of the material. FBGs have been studied as strain sensors for the last couple decades. Many of the embedded FBGs reflected a multi-peak, chirped response which was not able to be interpreted well by the current monitoring algorithm. Literature and this study found that the chirping correlated with microcracks. As loading increases, so does the number of chirped FBGs and microcracks. This study uses optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) to demultiplex the array of FBGs, and then sub- divide individual FBGs. When a FBG is sub-divided using OFDR, the gratings' strain along its length is recovered. The sub-divided chirped FBGs have strain gradients along their length from microcracks. Applying this to all chirped gratings, nearly the entirety of the embedded sensors' readings can be recovered into a series of single peak responses, which show very large local strains throughout the structure. This study reports on this success in recovering embedded FBGs signal, and the strain gradient from microcracks.

There exist a multitude of therapeutic options for the treatment of both benign and malignant tumors, where several of these options induce temperature changes in the tissue from several degrees centigrade to temperatures that ablate the region of interest (ROI). Recent advances in optical imaging technologies, namely optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG), may provide the necessary hardware/software components to both monitor and quantify the direct biological response to temperature-mediated cancer therapies. Preliminary research has been conducted to identify and analyze the trends in temperature measurements from FBG's placed within phantoms that mimic the optical characteristics of human tissue. Shifts of the Bragg wavelength at selected temperature intervals depict the temperature of the phantom relative to room temperature. The scattering properties of tissue were achieved in the phantom by using 0.665 g of titanium dioxide (TiO₂ - Titanium (IV) oxide, anatase) nanopowder, with a particle size smaller than 25 nm, which was mixed into 475 mL of Penecro’s Versagel (hydrocarbon material). This mixture imitates the tissue’s index of refraction of ~1.4. Shifts in the Bragg wavelength were measured using a spectrum analyzer at temperature intervals at approximately 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, 40°C, 45°C, 50°C, 55°C and 60°C. The results show that the relative Bragg wavelength is directly proportional to any increase or decrease of temperature in the phantom. In the case of these experiments, it was observed that the change in the bragg wavelength shift increased the phantom’s temperature was also increased with respect to the temperature set by the hot plate. The FBG regions that monitored temperature variations within the tissue-mimicking phantoms were also imaged, via OCT, to investigate temperature induced changes in the OCT images including investigation of changes in the OCT envelope statistics. This data may provide the base line to detect changes in the biological response to temperature variations, based solely on OCT images, and ultimately provide suitable imaging metric(s) to predict therapeutic outcome.

This Letter reports an innovative technique for fabricating large-scale, highly cascaded first-order sapphire optical fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) using a femtosecond laser-assisted point-by-point inscription method. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, this study successfully demonstrates a distributed array of 10 FBGs within highly multimode sapphire crystal fiber, made possible by employing a high-power laser technique to generate larger reflectors with a Gaussian intensity profile. These first-order FBGs offer advantages such as enhanced reflectivity, shorter fabrication time, and simplified spectral characteristics, making them easier to interpret compared with high-order FBGs. The FBGs' resilience and effectiveness are analyzed by subjecting them to temperature tests, proving their capacity for accurate temperature monitoring up to 1500°C-a testament to their suitability for harsh environments. This novel approach broadens the scope for sensing and communication applications in sapphire fibers, particularly under challenging conditions. The novelty of our work lies in successfully overcoming the limitations of previous designs by integrating a cascade of 10 FBGs in sapphire fibers, thereby enhancing multiplexing capabilities, minimizing overlapping of FBG peaks, and ensuring reliable temperature monitoring in industries and applications with thermal gradients.