In this work, we analyze a remote optical sensor system based on Raman amplification, composed by one Long Period Grating (LPG) as a sensor head, separated by 50 km from the optical source, and the interrogation unit composed by two Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) modulated by two Piezoelectrics Transductors (PZTs). Optical fiber sensor systems are typically limited to operate at distances of only few kilometers due to the attenuation effects and noise present in the optical fiber that adversely affects the performance of the sensor interrogation process. We present experimental and simulated results obtained in the context of the analysis of remote optical fiber sensors. The simulation models compute the Raman interaction between the pumps and the sensor signals and allow speeding up the analyses regarding the setup to be experimentally implemented in order to measure/monitor environmental temperature. Experimental results obtained in the implemented setup show that under Raman amplification the power ratio between the two central wavelengths of the FBGs has a linear relation with the change of the LPG resonance induced by environmental temperature.

Date Published: 9 May 2012
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 8439, Optical Sensing and Detection II, 84392A (9 May 2012); doi: 10.1117/12.923002

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8439:
Optical Sensing and Detection II
Francis Berghmans; Anna Grazia Mignani; Piet De Moor, Editor(s)