Single-Mode Input Fiber Combined with Multimode Sensing Fiber Used in Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry

Conventional single-mode fiber (SMF) Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry (BOTDR) suffers from a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and severe sensing reliability due to the influence of the stimulated Brillouin scattering threshold and bend loss. In this study, a simple and low-cost distributed...

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Main Authors: Yongqian Li, Haijun Fan, Lixin Zhang, Zijuan Liu, Lei Wang, Jiaqi Wu, Shaokang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Photonics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/9/6/398
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author Yongqian Li
Haijun Fan
Lixin Zhang
Zijuan Liu
Lei Wang
Jiaqi Wu
Shaokang Wang
author_facet Yongqian Li
Haijun Fan
Lixin Zhang
Zijuan Liu
Lei Wang
Jiaqi Wu
Shaokang Wang
author_sort Yongqian Li
collection DOAJ
description Conventional single-mode fiber (SMF) Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry (BOTDR) suffers from a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and severe sensing reliability due to the influence of the stimulated Brillouin scattering threshold and bend loss. In this study, a simple and low-cost distributed sensing structure, with a single-mode input fiber alignment fusion and a 50 μm diameter graded index multimode sensing fiber, is designed, and the SNR characteristic is investigated. Through theoretical derivation and experimental verification, a higher SNR and excellent bending resistance are realized in BOTDR. The experimentally measured improvements in the SNR of the proposed sensing structure over the SMF at the beginning and end of a 5 km fiber are 2.5 dB and 1.3 dB, respectively. The minimum bending radius of the sensing structure is 2.25 mm, which is much better than that of the SMFs. The bidirectional optical losses between the SMF and the 50 μm graded index multimode fiber are measured by a simple experiment system and are 0.106 dB and 1.35 dB, respectively. The temperature-sensing characteristics of the sensing structure are measured by the self-built frequency-shift local heterodyne BOTDR sensor, and the measured temperature sensitivity and accuracy are 0.946 MHz/℃ and 1 ℃, respectively. The design provides a reference for BOTDR with a high SNR and has great potential for structural safety and health monitoring of infrastructures.
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spelling doaj.art-4e96a41c30d043b1a9d31b115490fd8d2023-11-23T18:32:57ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322022-06-019639810.3390/photonics9060398Single-Mode Input Fiber Combined with Multimode Sensing Fiber Used in Brillouin Optical Time-Domain ReflectometryYongqian Li0Haijun Fan1Lixin Zhang2Zijuan Liu3Lei Wang4Jiaqi Wu5Shaokang Wang6Department of Electronic and Communication Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, ChinaDepartment of Electronic and Communication Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, ChinaDepartment of Electronic and Communication Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, ChinaDepartment of Electronic and Communication Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, ChinaDepartment of Electronic and Communication Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, ChinaDepartment of Electronic and Communication Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, ChinaDepartment of Electronic and Communication Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding 071003, ChinaConventional single-mode fiber (SMF) Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry (BOTDR) suffers from a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and severe sensing reliability due to the influence of the stimulated Brillouin scattering threshold and bend loss. In this study, a simple and low-cost distributed sensing structure, with a single-mode input fiber alignment fusion and a 50 μm diameter graded index multimode sensing fiber, is designed, and the SNR characteristic is investigated. Through theoretical derivation and experimental verification, a higher SNR and excellent bending resistance are realized in BOTDR. The experimentally measured improvements in the SNR of the proposed sensing structure over the SMF at the beginning and end of a 5 km fiber are 2.5 dB and 1.3 dB, respectively. The minimum bending radius of the sensing structure is 2.25 mm, which is much better than that of the SMFs. The bidirectional optical losses between the SMF and the 50 μm graded index multimode fiber are measured by a simple experiment system and are 0.106 dB and 1.35 dB, respectively. The temperature-sensing characteristics of the sensing structure are measured by the self-built frequency-shift local heterodyne BOTDR sensor, and the measured temperature sensitivity and accuracy are 0.946 MHz/℃ and 1 ℃, respectively. The design provides a reference for BOTDR with a high SNR and has great potential for structural safety and health monitoring of infrastructures.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/9/6/398Brillouin optical time domain reflectometrymultimode fiberbidirectional optical coupling efficiencysignal-to-noise ratiobending resistance
spellingShingle Yongqian Li
Haijun Fan
Lixin Zhang
Zijuan Liu
Lei Wang
Jiaqi Wu
Shaokang Wang
Single-Mode Input Fiber Combined with Multimode Sensing Fiber Used in Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry
Photonics
Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry
multimode fiber
bidirectional optical coupling efficiency
signal-to-noise ratio
bending resistance
title Single-Mode Input Fiber Combined with Multimode Sensing Fiber Used in Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry
title_full Single-Mode Input Fiber Combined with Multimode Sensing Fiber Used in Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry
title_fullStr Single-Mode Input Fiber Combined with Multimode Sensing Fiber Used in Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry
title_full_unstemmed Single-Mode Input Fiber Combined with Multimode Sensing Fiber Used in Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry
title_short Single-Mode Input Fiber Combined with Multimode Sensing Fiber Used in Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry
title_sort single mode input fiber combined with multimode sensing fiber used in brillouin optical time domain reflectometry
topic Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry
multimode fiber
bidirectional optical coupling efficiency
signal-to-noise ratio
bending resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/9/6/398
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