Polarization mode dispersion in radio-frequency interferometric embedded fiber-optic sensors

Author

Eyal, A. ; Dimenstein, O. ; Tur, M. ; Zaidman, M. ; Green, A. ; Gali, S.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Appl. Phys., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA

Volume

19

Issue

4

fYear

2001

fDate

4/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

504

Lastpage

511

Abstract

The effect of fiber birefringence on the propagation delay in an embedded fiber-optic strain sensor is studied. The polarization characteristics of the sensor are described in terms of polarization mode dispersion through the principal states of polarization and their differential group delay. Using these descriptors, an analytical expression for the response of the sensor for an arbitrary input state of polarization is given and experimentally verified. It is found that the differential group delay, as well as the input and output principal states of polarization, vary when the embedded fiber is strained, leading to fluctuations in the sensor output. The use of high birefringence fibers and different embedding geometries is examined as a means for reducing the polarization dependency of the sensor

Keywords

birefringence; delays; fibre optic sensors; fluctuations; intelligent sensors; light interferometers; optical fibre polarisation; strain sensors; analytical expression; birefringence fibers; differential group delay; embedded fiber; embedded fiber-optic strain sensor; embedding geometries; fluctuations; input state of polarization; output principal states of polarization; polarization dependency; polarization mode dispersion; principal states of polarization; propagation delay; radio-frequency interferometric embedded fiber-optic sensors; sensor output; Birefringence; Capacitive sensors; Fluctuations; Geometry; Optical fiber polarization; Optical fiber sensors; Polarization mode dispersion; Propagation delay; Radio frequency; Sensor phenomena and characterization;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.920848

Filename

920848