Optical fiber sources, amplifiers, and special fibers for application inmultiplexed and distributed sensor systems,

摘要

Abstract: The paper describes how active fiber devices and special fibers can enhance the performance of multiplexed and distributed sensing systems. The use of active fibers, such as rare-earth- doped types, can act as powerful CW or pulsed sources, as wavelength-tunable sources, high-power amplifiers, and as low- noise detector preamplifiers. Thus many arrangements for sensor- multiplexing or distributed sensing, which may appear unattractively lossy on first consideration, may become perfectly viable with the insertion of active devices. The paper reviews possible applications of special fibers in multiplexed and distributed sensors. The use of such fibers can greatly enhance the performance of sensor systems and even allow the construction of new types of optical sensors which were not previously possible with conventional fibers.!30