Frequency-Shifted Interferometry — A Versatile Fiber-Optic Sensing Technique

Abstract

Fiber-optic sensing is a field that is developing at a fast pace. Novel fiber-optic sensor designs and sensing principles constantly open doors for new opportunities. In this paper, we review a fiber-optic sensing technique developed in our research group called frequency-shifted interferometry (FSI). This technique uses a continuous-wave light source, an optical frequency shifter, and a slow detector. We discuss the operation principles of several FSI implementations and show their applications in fiber length and dispersion measurement, locating weak reflections along a fiber link, fiber-optic sensor multiplexing, and high-sensitivity cavity ring-down measurement. Detailed analysis of FSI system parameters is also presented.

Keywords

• fiber optics
• interferometry
• Sagnac interferometer
• fiber-optic sensors
• sensor multiplexing
• cavity ring-down
• polarization
• Jones calculus