Triple wavelength SOA-based fiber ring laser for use in wavelength-division multiplexed FBG vibration sensor array

摘要

A multi-wavelength tunable fiber laser is constructed for a wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor array in which simultaneous detection of multipoint vibrations and temperature stabilization of the sensor outputs are achieved. The laser consists of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) as a gain medium and of FBGs as wavelength selection components. Since the SOA is an inhomogeneous broadening gain medium, stable multiwavelength oscillation at the Bragg wavelengths of the FBGs can be realized. In addition, the oscillation wavelengths of the laser can be tuned by applying strain to the FBGs used. In the sensor scheme, triple wavelength fiber laser is fabricated, in which the three wavelength components provide narrowband light sources for arrayed WDM FBG sensors and the wavelength tuning enables temperature compensation for the vibration detection. In the experiment, simultaneous three-point vibration detection with temperature stabilization has been successfully demonstrated.