Narrow-Linewidth and Wavelength-Tunable Diode Laser for Fiber-Optic Acoustic Emission Sensor Systems

Abstract

Laser source is a key component of a fiber-optic acoustic emission (AE) system that, in manycases, determines the cost and the nois"e performance of the system. Most cost-effective and smallsizediode lasers are designed for optical communications and are not optimized for fiber-optic AEsensor systems. This project is aimed at developing cost-effective diode lasers with narrowlinewidthand high-speed wavelength tuning capability that are optimized for laser-based intensitydemodulatedfiber-optic AE sensor system. If succe"ssful, the lasers developed in this project willsignificantly reduce the noise and improve the detection limit of current systems t""hat usedistributed feedback (DFB) semiconductor lasers. In addition, the laser wavelength can be tunedover the full C-band in rela""tively low speed so that a single laser can be switched to demodulatemany sensors at different wavelengths. More specifically, we w"ill investigate the laser frequencynoise reduction by self-injection locking on tunable optical cavities. We will also study a smar"tdigital feedback control system to incorporate the laser into the fiber-optic sensor system. Finally,we will demonstrate the lase""rs for applications in multichannel, multiplexed fiber-optic AE sensorsystems.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Sep 29, 2017
Source ID
N000141712819

Entities

People

  • Ming Han

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy
  • University of Nebraska system

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Fiber Sensing and Electromagnetic Propagation.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems