Polarization Properties of Coherently Superposed Rayleigh Backscattered Light in Single-Mode Fibers
The properties of the state of polarization (SOP) and the degree of polarization (DOP) of Rayleigh backscattered light (RBL) in single-mode fibers (SMF) are investigated theoretically and experimentally when the incident probe is a perfectly coherent continuous-wave (CW) light. It is concluded that...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/18/7769 |
| _version_ | 1797577055278202880 |
|---|---|
| author | Hui Dong Hailiang Zhang Dora Juan Juan Hu |
| author_facet | Hui Dong Hailiang Zhang Dora Juan Juan Hu |
| author_sort | Hui Dong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The properties of the state of polarization (SOP) and the degree of polarization (DOP) of Rayleigh backscattered light (RBL) in single-mode fibers (SMF) are investigated theoretically and experimentally when the incident probe is a perfectly coherent continuous-wave (CW) light. It is concluded that the instantaneous DOP of the coherently superposed RBL is always 100%, and the instantaneous SOP is determined by the distributions of the birefringence and the optical phase along the SMF. Therefore, the instantaneous SOP of the coherently superposed RBL does not have a constant relationship with the SOP of the incident CW probe. Furthermore, the instantaneous SOP varies randomly with time because the optical phase is very sensitive to ambient temperature and vibration even in the lab environment. Further theoretical derivation and experimental verification demonstrate, for the first time, that the temporally averaged SOP of the coherently superposed RBL has a simple constant relationship with the SOP of the incident CW probe, and the temporally averaged DOP is 1/3 in an SMF with low and randomly distributed birefringence. The derived formulas and obtained findings can be used to enhance the modelling and improve the performances of phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry and other Rayleigh backscattering based fiber-optic sensors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:02:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9079e3bb755b4fe3b8b2099bfc3c5d10 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:02:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-9079e3bb755b4fe3b8b2099bfc3c5d102023-11-19T12:53:57ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202023-09-012318776910.3390/s23187769Polarization Properties of Coherently Superposed Rayleigh Backscattered Light in Single-Mode FibersHui Dong0Hailiang Zhang1Dora Juan Juan Hu2Institute for Infocomm Research (I<sup>2</sup>R), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, #21-01, Connexis South Tower, Singapore 138632, SingaporeInstitute for Infocomm Research (I<sup>2</sup>R), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, #21-01, Connexis South Tower, Singapore 138632, SingaporeInstitute for Infocomm Research (I<sup>2</sup>R), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, #21-01, Connexis South Tower, Singapore 138632, SingaporeThe properties of the state of polarization (SOP) and the degree of polarization (DOP) of Rayleigh backscattered light (RBL) in single-mode fibers (SMF) are investigated theoretically and experimentally when the incident probe is a perfectly coherent continuous-wave (CW) light. It is concluded that the instantaneous DOP of the coherently superposed RBL is always 100%, and the instantaneous SOP is determined by the distributions of the birefringence and the optical phase along the SMF. Therefore, the instantaneous SOP of the coherently superposed RBL does not have a constant relationship with the SOP of the incident CW probe. Furthermore, the instantaneous SOP varies randomly with time because the optical phase is very sensitive to ambient temperature and vibration even in the lab environment. Further theoretical derivation and experimental verification demonstrate, for the first time, that the temporally averaged SOP of the coherently superposed RBL has a simple constant relationship with the SOP of the incident CW probe, and the temporally averaged DOP is 1/3 in an SMF with low and randomly distributed birefringence. The derived formulas and obtained findings can be used to enhance the modelling and improve the performances of phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry and other Rayleigh backscattering based fiber-optic sensors.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/18/7769optical polarizationfiber opticsRayleigh scatteringphase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometryJones matrixMueller matrix |
| spellingShingle | Hui Dong Hailiang Zhang Dora Juan Juan Hu Polarization Properties of Coherently Superposed Rayleigh Backscattered Light in Single-Mode Fibers Sensors optical polarization fiber optics Rayleigh scattering phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry Jones matrix Mueller matrix |
| title | Polarization Properties of Coherently Superposed Rayleigh Backscattered Light in Single-Mode Fibers |
| title_full | Polarization Properties of Coherently Superposed Rayleigh Backscattered Light in Single-Mode Fibers |
| title_fullStr | Polarization Properties of Coherently Superposed Rayleigh Backscattered Light in Single-Mode Fibers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Polarization Properties of Coherently Superposed Rayleigh Backscattered Light in Single-Mode Fibers |
| title_short | Polarization Properties of Coherently Superposed Rayleigh Backscattered Light in Single-Mode Fibers |
| title_sort | polarization properties of coherently superposed rayleigh backscattered light in single mode fibers |
| topic | optical polarization fiber optics Rayleigh scattering phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry Jones matrix Mueller matrix |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/18/7769 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huidong polarizationpropertiesofcoherentlysuperposedrayleighbackscatteredlightinsinglemodefibers AT hailiangzhang polarizationpropertiesofcoherentlysuperposedrayleighbackscatteredlightinsinglemodefibers AT dorajuanjuanhu polarizationpropertiesofcoherentlysuperposedrayleighbackscatteredlightinsinglemodefibers |