Distributed Vibration Sensing Based on a Forward Transmission Polarization-Generated Carrier

Ming Chen; Xing Rao; Kuan Liu; Yuhang Wang; Shuqing Chen; Lin Xu; Rendong Xu; George Y. Chen; Yiping Wang

doi:10.3390/s24165257

Sensors (Aug 2024)

Distributed Vibration Sensing Based on a Forward Transmission Polarization-Generated Carrier

Ming Chen,
Xing Rao,
Kuan Liu,
Yuhang Wang,
Shuqing Chen,
Lin Xu,
Rendong Xu,
George Y. Chen,
Yiping Wang

Affiliations

Ming Chen: Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Xing Rao: Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Kuan Liu: Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Yuhang Wang: Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Shuqing Chen: Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
Lin Xu: Jiangsu Ocean Technology and Equipment Innovation Center, Suzhou 215000, China
Rendong Xu: Jiangsu Ocean Technology and Equipment Innovation Center, Suzhou 215000, China
George Y. Chen: Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Yiping Wang: Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education/Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s24165257
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24, no. 16
p. 5257

Abstract

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For distributed fiber-optic sensors, slowly varying vibration signals down to 5 mHz are difficult to measure due to low signal-to-noise ratios. We propose and demonstrate a forward transmission-based distributed sensing system, combined with a polarization-generated carrier for detection bandwidth reduction, and cross-correlation for vibration positioning. By applying a higher-frequency carrier signal using a fast polarization controller, the initial phase of the known carrier frequency is monitored and analyzed to demodulate the vibration signal. Only the polarization carrier needs to be analyzed, not the arbitrary-frequency signal, which can lead to hardware issues (reduced detection bandwidth and less noise). The difference in arrival time between the two detection ends obtained through cross-correlation can determine the vibration position. Our experimental results demonstrate a sensitivity of 0.63 mrad/με and a limit of detection (LoD) of 355.6 pε/Hz1/2 at 60 Hz. A lock-in amplifier can be used on the fixed carrier to achieve a minimal LoD. The sensing distance can reach 131.5 km and the positioning accuracy is 725 m (root-mean-square error) while the spatial resolution is 105 m. The tested vibration frequency range is between 0.005 Hz and 160 Hz. A low frequency of 5 mHz for forward transmission-based distributed sensing is highly attractive for seismic monitoring applications.

Published in Sensors

ISSN: 1424-8220 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors

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