Open Access
Brillouin optical time-domain analysis sensor with pump pulse amplification
(Optical Society of America, 2016) Mompó Roselló, Juan José; Urricelqui Polvorinos, Javier; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
We demonstrate a simple technique to provide conventional Brillouin optical time-domain analysis sensors with mitigation for pump pulse attenuation. The technique is based on operating the sensor in loss configuration so that energy is transferred from the probe wave to the pump pulse that becomes amplified as it counter-propagates with the probe wave. Furthermore, the optical frequency of the probe wave is modulated along the fiber so that the pump pulse experiences a flat total gain spectrum that equally amplifies all the spectral components of the pulse, hence, preventing distortion. This frequency modulation of the probe brings additional advantages because it provides increased tolerance to non-local effects and to spontaneous Brillouin scattering noise, so that a probe power above the Brillouin threshold of the fiber can be safely deployed, hence, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement. The method is experimentally demonstrated in a 100-km fiber link, obtaining a measurement uncertainty of 1 MHz at the worst-contrast position.
Open Access
Zuntz optikoan oinarritutako sentsoreen prestazioen muga-efektu berria, egituren egoera monitorizatzea helburu
(Udako Euskal Unibertsitatea, 2017) Iribas Pardo, Haritz; Mariñelarena Ollacarizqueta, Jon; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Brillouin denbora-eremu optikoaren analisian (BOTDA) oinarritutako sentsoreak estruktura handien (120 km luzerako estrukturak) deformazioa eta tenperatura neurtzeko gaitasuna dute, metro bateko bereizmen espazialarekin. Lan honetan, sentsorearen merkatu-prezioa handitu gabe bereizmen espazial txikiagoa lortzeko beharrezkoa litzatekeen teknika erabiltzeak dituen efektu kaltegarriak aztertu egin dira. Izan ere, pultsu azkar bat sortzeko beharrezkoak diren Mach-Zehnder modulagailu elektrooptikoek iraungitze-ratio (ER) txikia dute. Horiek horrela, aztertu egin da pultsatutako seinalea sortzeko sorgailuak duen ERaren eragina BOTDA sentsoreen prestazioetan, akats handiak sortzen direla ondorioztatuz.
Open Access
Phasorial differential pulse-width pair technique for long-range Brillouin optical time-domain analysis sensors
(Optical Society of America, 2014) Urricelqui Polvorinos, Javier; Sagüés García, Mikel; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
We introduce a novel phasorial differential pulse width pair (PDPP) method for Brillouin optical time domain analysis (BOTDA) sensors that combines spatial resolution enhancement with increased tolerance to non local effects. It is based on the subtraction of the complex time domain traces supplied by a sensor configuration that uses a phase modulated probe wave and RF demodulation. The fundamentals of the technique are first described theoretically and using numerical simulation of the propagating waves. Then, proof of concept experiments demonstrate the measurement of the Brillouin frequency shift distribution over 50 km. The system is shown to withstand large variations of the pump power generated by its interaction with a powerful probe wave along the fiber; hence, highlighting the potential of the PDPP technique to increase the detected signal to noise ratio in long range BOTDA. Moreover, the PDPP is also shown to increase the measurement contrast by allowing the use of relatively long duration pulses while retaining 1 m spatial resolution.
Open Access
Distortion-free Brillouin distributed sensor using RF shaping of pump pulses
(SPIE, 2009-10-05) Zornoza Indart, Ander; Olier Aguado, David; Sagüés García, Mikel; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
We demonstrate a novel configuration for Brillouin optical time domain analysis based on single-sideband modulation and RF shaping that provides pump pulses with 80-dB extinction ratio. This extremely reduced leakage, which to our knowledge is the lowest ever achieved, completely suppresses distortion of the measured spectra, thus sensor precision is enhanced. Furthermore, the proposed setup results in a simplified system with only one modulator and no need for optical filtering in detection.
Open Access
Dynamic BOTDA measurements using Brillouin phase-shift
(SPIE, 2012) Urricelqui Polvorinos, Javier; Zornoza Indart, Ander; Sagüés García, Mikel; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
We demonstrate a novel dynamic BOTDA sensor based, for the first time to our knowledge, on the use of the Brillouin phase-shift instead of the conventional Brillouin gain. This provides the advantage of measurements that are largely immune to variations in fiber attenuation or changes in pump pulse power. Furthermore, the optical detection deployed can lead to an enhanced precision or measurement time and to the broadening of the measurement range. Proof of concept experiments demonstrate 1.66 kHz measurement rate with 1 m resolution over a 160 m sensing fiber length.
Open Access
46-km-long Raman amplified hybrid double-bus network with point and distributed Brillouin sensors
(IEEE, 2012) Fernández Vallejo, Montserrat; Olier Aguado, David; Zornoza Indart, Ander; Pérez Herrera, Rosa Ana; Díaz Lucas, Silvia; Elosúa Aguado, César; Bariáin Aisa, Cándido; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
We experimentally demonstrate a 46-km hybrid network that combine point and distributed Brillouin sensors. The proposed sensor network multiplexes low-cost intensity point sensors based on fiber-optic tapers, which are able to measure vibrations in the 0.01 to 50 Hz frequency range. The sensor network with a double-bus is a low noise configuration, which offers a higher optical signal to noise ratio and dynamic range than a single-bus. Thus, the number of sensors to be multiplexed could increase or we could reach further distances. The system also deploys remote distributed Raman amplification to extend the sensing range.
Open Access
Linearly-configured BOCDA system with large modulation amplitude using dual-probe wave
(Optical Society of America, 2018) Mariñelarena Ollacarizqueta, Jon; Kim, Yong Hyun; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; Song, Kwang Yong; Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
We present and experimentally demonstrated a linearly-configured Brillouin optical correlation domain analysis (LC-BOCDA) system that allows large modulation amplitude (Δf) based on a dual probe wave and the control of correlation-order. The adoption of dual probe and the control of correlation-order can suppress the effects of two main origins of the noise - the Brillouin loss of the pump and the beat noise between the pump and probe waves. We experimentally confirm that Δf and the number of resolving points, N, can be increase to 1.8 times without significant noise.
Open Access
Phasorial DPP-BOTDA sensor tolerant to non-local effects
(SPIE, 2014) Urricelqui Polvorinos, Javier; Mariñelarena Ollacarizqueta, Jon; Sagüés García, Mikel; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
We introduce a modification of the differential pulse width pair technique in a BOTDA sensor based on a phase modulated probe wave and RF demodulation. This provides a differential Brillouin phasorial signal with high spatial and spectral resolution in both components (magnitude and phase shift). Moreover, the use of a phase modulated probe wave provides RF phase shift measurements tolerant to the emergence of non local effects. The combination of both techniques can lead to the development of long range BOTDA sensors. Proof of concept experiments demonstrate RF phase shift measurements with 1m spatial resolution over 50km and an uncertainty of 1.3ºC at the worst contrast position.
Open Access
Measurement of polarization dependent loss, polarization mode dispersion and group delay of optical components using swept optical single sideband modulated signals
(Optical Society of America, 2008) Sagüés García, Mikel; Pérez Echegoyen, Miguel; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, 13326
We introduce a novel method for high wavelength-resolution measurement of polarization-averaged group delay, polarization dependent loss and polarization mode dispersion of optical components using swept optical single sideband modulated signals. Measurements of a phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating, a chirped fiber Bragg grating and of the Brillouin spectra of a length of fiber are used in order to demonstrate the technique.
Open Access
Cost-effective Brillouin optical time-domain analysis sensor using a single optical source and passive optical filtering
(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2016) Iribas Pardo, Haritz; Urricelqui Polvorinos, Javier; Mariñelarena Ollacarizqueta, Jon; Sagüés García, Mikel; Loayssa Lara, Alayn; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
We present a simplified configuration for distributed Brillouin optical time-domain analysis sensors that aims to reduce the cost of the sensor by reducing the number of components required for the generation of the two optical waves involved in the sensing process. Te technique is based on obtaining the pump and probe waves by passive optical filtering of the spectral components generated in a single optical source that is driven by a pulsed RF signal. Te optical source is a compact laser with integrated electroabsorption modulator and the optical filters are based on fiber Bragg gratings. Proof-of-concept experiments demonstrate 1m spatial resolution over a 20km sensing fiber with a 0.9MHz precision in the measurement of the Brillouin frequency shiſt, a performance similar to that of much more complex setups. Furthermore, we discuss the factors limiting the sensor performance, which are basically related to residual spectral components in the filtering process.