Ultrasensitive fiber strain sensor

OZ Optics与皇后区的研究人员将设计和建造一个原型传感器系统， 灵敏度该仪器适用于人造和自然结构中的应变和振动测量，即它同样适用于 适用于监测飞机、桥梁、建筑物和道路的结构健康状况，例如地震监测。传感器头由一个光学腔组成，该光学腔被并入标准电信光纤中，该光纤由一个新的 研制了有源光反馈电路。在以前的工作中，传感器被证明具有 仅受纤维材料的热力学相位波动的限制（Science，330，6007（2010）1081），并且发现 在动态范围和灵敏度方面远远上级任何先前开发的应变传感器。在当前 联合开发重点在于对同一概念进行廉价、坚固的改造。此外，我们将 制定一个启动协议，允许无人值守的系统启动。这对未来的商业至关重要。 该系统的开发，但从未尝试过。在项目完成后，我们将建立一个传感器 该系统允许在DC到>200 kHz的频率范围内以纳米应变水平进行应变和频率测量。 该仪器填补了OZ Optics提供的光纤传感产品组合的空白。

OZ Optics together with Queens researchers will design and build a prototype sensor system with unprecedented sensitivity. The instrument is suited for strain and vibration measurements in artificial and natural structures, i.e. it is equally suited for monitoring the structural health of planes, bridges, buildings, and roads as it is for e.g. seismic monitoring. The sensor head consists of an optical cavity incorporated into standard telecom fiber which is interrogated by a newly developed active optical feedback circuit. In previous work the sensor was shown to perform with a sensitivity that was limited only by the thermodynamic phase fluctuations of the fiber material (Science, 330, 6007 (2010) 1081) and was found to be far superior, with regards to dynamic range and sensitivity, to any previously developed strain sensor. In the current joint development the emphasis lies on an inexpensive, ruggedized adaptation of the same concept. In addition we will develop a start-up protocol that permits unattended boot-up of the system. This is essential for future commercial development of the system, but has never been attempted. Upon completion of the project we will have built a sensor system that permits strain and frequency measurements at nanostrain levels within a frequency range from DC to >200 kHz. The instrument fills a gap in the fiber-optic sensing portfolio offered by OZ Optics.