Polarization switching for distributed transverse stress sensing in optical fibers using the optical Kerr effect

Author

Julian, Princy L D ; Zhang, Jian ; Handerek, Vincent A. ; Rogers, Alan J.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electron. Eng., King´´s Coll., London, UK

Volume

16

Issue

12

fYear

1998

fDate

12/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2378

Lastpage

2384

Abstract

A polarization diversity detection system for distributed sensing of polarization mode coupling in high birefringence fibers has been implemented using a pump-probe architecture based on the optical Kerr effect. The system is capable of locating disturbance points along a length of fiber, for arbitrary probe polarization states. The system is shown to overcome signal-fading problems due to phase bias drift of the probe caused by temperature variations in the fiber

Keywords

birefringence; fibre optic sensors; optical Kerr effect; optical fibre polarisation; optical fibre testing; optical pumping; optical switches; stress measurement; arbitrary probe polarization states; distributed sensing; distributed transverse stress sensing; disturbance points; high birefringence fibers; optical Kerr effect; optical fiber testing; phase bias drift; polarization diversity detection system; polarization mode coupling; polarization switching; pump-probe architecture; signal-fading problems; temperature variations; Fiber nonlinear optics; Kerr effect; Nonlinear optics; Optical attenuators; Optical fiber polarization; Optical fibers; Optical pumping; Optical scattering; Optical sensors; Stress;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.736605

Filename

736605