Multiwavelength Linear-Cavity SOA-Based Laser Array Design for Multiparameter and Long-Haul Sensing

Author

Shien-Kuei Liaw ; Yin-Wen Lee ; Hsin-Wen Huang ; Wen-Fang Wu

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electron. Eng., Nat. Taiwan Univ. of Sci. & Technol., Taipei, Taiwan

Volume

15

Issue

6

fYear

2015

fDate

Jun-15

Firstpage

3353

Lastpage

3358

Abstract

A multiwavelength linear-cavity laser array for long-distance sensing is designed and experimentally demonstrated. It is a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) integrating a 1 × N optical switch, formed by a 2 × 2 fiber loop mirror and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) as cavity ends. We investigate the laser system output characteristics and evaluate the sensor performance for different sensing distances incorporating the FBGs. The results show that this SOA-based laser sensor array possesses a dynamic sensing distance of up to 35 km at a 350-mA injection current. Stress/strain detection and reliable linear-cavity fiber laser sensing operation were successfully achieved.

Keywords

Bragg gratings; fibre optic sensors; laser mirrors; laser ranging; optical design techniques; optical switches; semiconductor laser arrays; semiconductor optical amplifiers; sensor arrays; strain sensors; stress measurement; FBG; cavity end; current 350 mA; dynamic sensing distance; fiber Bragg grating; fiber loop mirror; laser system output characteristics; multiparameter long haul sensing; multiwavelength linear cavity SOA-based laser array design; optical switch; reliable linear cavity laser sensing operation; semiconductor optical amplifier; sensor performance evaluation; stress detection; Fiber lasers; Measurement by laser beam; Optical fiber amplifiers; Optical fiber couplers; Optical fiber sensors; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Fiber Bragg grating; fiber laser; fiber sensor; semiconductor optical amplifier; strain detection;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Sensors Journal, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1530-437X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSEN.2015.2390674

Filename

7017563