Design of Acoustic Couplers for Sensing Applications

Abstract

In this proposal, we propose to investigate the direct collection of acoustic signals using the optical fiber simply as an acoustic waveguide and to couple the acoustic information to an already existing sensing optical fiber with through an acoustic coupler. The acoustic information would then be processed through a FGB sensor in the original sensing optical fiber. The coupler does not require cleaving or splicing of the existing optical fiber in order to process the new acoustic information with the FBG sensors. We will design, model and experimentally verify a 2 x 2 acoustic coupler where the amplitude of the two output channels can be independently designed. Theoretical equations will be derived for the coupling efficiency between the optical fibers. Afterwards experimental verification of these theoretical predictions will be performed through both laser Doppler vibrometry measurements of the exterior surface of the coupler and mode amplitude measurements in the optical fibers using FBGs.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Feb 07, 2019
Source ID
N000141912053

Entities

People

  • Kara Peters

Organizations

  • North Carolina State University
  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Microwave Engineering.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy