Showing papers on "Brillouin scattering published in 2010"

Stimulated Brillouin scattering in optical fibers

Abstract: We present a detailed overview of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in single-mode optical fibers. The review is divided into two parts. In the first part, we discuss the fundamentals of SBS. A particular emphasis is given to analytical calculation of the backreflected power and SBS threshold (SBST) in optical fibers with various index profiles. For this, we consider acousto-optic interaction in the guiding geometry and derive the modal overlap integral, which describes the dependence of the Brillouin gain on the refractive index profile of the optical fiber. We analyze Stokes backreflected power initiated by thermal phonons, compare values of the SBST calculated from different approximations, and discuss the SBST dependence on the fiber length. We also review an analytical approach to calculate the gain of Brillouin fiber amplifiers (BFAs) in the regime of pump depletion. In the high-gain regime, fiber loss is a nonnegligible effect and needs to be accounted for along with the pump depletion. We provide an accurate analytic expression for the BFA gain and show results of experimental validation. Finally, we review methods to suppress SBS including index-controlled acoustic guiding or segmented fiber links. The second part of the review deals with recent advances in fiber-optic applications where SBS is a relevant effect. In particular, we discuss the impact of SBS on the radio-over-fiber technology, enhancement of the SBS efficiency in Raman-pumped fibers, slow light due to SBS and SBS-based optical delay lines, Brillouin fiber-optic sensors, and SBS mitigation in high-power fiber lasers, as well as SBS in multimode and microstructured fibers. A detailed derivation of evolutional equations in the guided wave geometry as well as key physical relations are given in appendices.

Implementation of a digital optical phase conjugation system and its application to study the robustness of turbidity suppression by phase conjugation

Abstract: In this work, we report a novel high capacity (number of degrees of freedom) open loop adaptive optics method, termed digital optical phase conjugation (DOPC), which provides a robust optoelectronic optical phase conjugation (OPC) solution. We showed that our prototype can phase conjugate light fields with ~3.9 x 10−3 degree accuracy over a range of ~3 degrees and can phase conjugate an input field through a relatively thick turbid medium (μsl ~13). Furthermore, we employed this system to show that the reversing of random scattering in turbid media by phase conjugation is surprisingly robust and accommodating of phase errors. An OPC wavefront with significant spatial phase errors (error uniformly distributed from – π/2 to π/2) can nevertheless allow OPC reconstruction through a scattering medium with ~40% of the efficiency achieved with phase error free OPC.

On-chip stimulated Brillouin scattering

Abstract: We report the first demonstration of on-chip stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) with low average power. The measured Brillouin shift and line width are ∼7.7 GHz and ∼6 MHz in a 7 cm long chalcogenide waveguide.

Tailoring optical forces in waveguides through radiation pressure and electrostrictive forces

Abstract: Radiation pressure is known to scale to large values in engineered micro and nanoscale photonic waveguide systems. In addition to radiation pressure, dielectric materials also exhibit strain-dependent refractive index changes, through which optical fields can induce electrostrictive forces. To date, little attention has been paid to the electrostrictive component of optical forces in high-index contrast waveguides. In this paper, we examine the magnitude, scaling, and spatial distribution of electrostrictive forces through analytical and numerical models, revealing that electrostrictive forces increase to large values in high index-contrast waveguides. Similar to radiation pressure, electrostrictive forces increase quadratically with the optical field. However, since electrostrictive forces are determined by the material photoelastic tensor, the sign of the electrostrictive force is highly material-dependent, resulting in cancellation with radiation pressure in some instances. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that the optical forces resulting from both radiation pressure and electrostriction can scale to remarkably high levels (i.e., greater than 104(N/m2)) for realistic guided powers. Additionally, even in simple rectangular waveguides, the magnitude and distribution of both forces can be engineered at the various boundaries of the waveguide system by choice of material system and geometry of the waveguide.This tailorability points towards novel and simple waveguide designs which enable selective excitation of elastic waves with desired symmetries through engineered stimulated Brillouin scattering processes in nanoscale waveguide systems.

Experimental study of Brillouin scattering in perfluorinated polymer optical fiber at telecommunication wavelength

Abstract: Brillouin scattering properties in a perfluorinated graded-index polymer optical fiber (POF) with 120 μm core diameter were experimentally investigated using a laser with an operating wavelength of 1.55 μm. The Brillouin frequency shift and the Brillouin bandwidth were 2.83 GHz and 105 MHz, respectively. The calculated Brillouin gain coefficient of 3.09×10−11 m/W was comparable to that of fused silica fibers. The Brillouin threshold power of the 100 m POF was estimated to be 24 W, which we believe can be reduced by employing POFs with smaller cores.

High Spatial and Spectral Resolution Long-Range Sensing Using Brillouin Echoes

Abstract: High spatial ( cm) and spectral ( MHz) resolution Brillouin sensing is realized with enhanced signal to noise ratio using a pre-activated acoustic field and an optical phase control over the interrogating pulse. Pre-activation of the acoustic field preserves the Brillouin natural linewidth and a differential gain technique extends the method to long ranges. Experimentally, fully resolved measurements of the Brillouin frequency shift of a 5 cm spot perturbation at the far end of a 5 km fiber have been performed with a frequency resolution of 3 MHz (2) , using a 500 ps (5 cm) phase shift pulse.

Distributed Brillouin Fiber Sensor Assisted by First-Order Raman Amplification

Abstract: Distributed optical fiber Brillouin sensors provide innovative solutions for the monitoring of temperature and strain in large structures. The effective range of these sensors is typically of the order of 20-30 km, which limits their use in certain applications in which the distance to monitor is larger. In this work, we have developed a new technique to significantly extend the measurement distance of a distributed Brillouin Optical Time-Domain Analysis (BOTDA) sensor. Distributed Raman Amplification in the sensing fiber provides the means to enhance the operating range of the setup. Three Raman pumping configurations are theoretically and experimentally investigated: co-propagating, counter-propagating and bidirectional propagation with respect to the Brillouin pump pulse. We show that some of the amplification schemes tested can extend the measurement range and improve the measurement quality over long distances.

Broadband true time delay for microwave signal processing, using slow light based on stimulated Brillouin scattering in optical fibers.

Abstract: We experimentally demonstrate a novel technique to process broadband microwave signals, using all-optically tunable true time delay in optical fibers. The configuration to achieve true time delay basically consists of two main stages: photonic RF phase shifter and slow light, based on stimulated Brillouin scattering in fibers. Dispersion properties of fibers are controlled, separately at optical carrier frequency and in the vicinity of microwave signal bandwidth. This way time delay induced within the signal bandwidth can be manipulated to correctly act as true time delay with a proper phase compensation introduced to the optical carrier. We completely analyzed the generated true time delay as a promising solution to feed phased array antenna for radar systems and to develop dynamically reconfigurable microwave photonic filters.

Time-Domain Distributed Fiber Sensor With 1 cm Spatial Resolution Based on Brillouin Dynamic Grating

Abstract: We demonstrate an optical time-domain distributed fiber sensor showing the highest spatial resolution ever reported based on Brillouin dynamic grating in a polarization-maintaining fiber. In our scheme, the acoustic gratings containing the information on the local Brillouin frequency are generated by a long pump pulse in one polarization, and read out by a short probe pulse in the orthogonal polarization at a clearly distinct optical frequency from the pump. In the experiment, distributed temperature measurements over a 20 m fiber are performed with 1.2 cm spatial resolution.

Brillouin distributed time-domain sensing in optical fibers: state of the art and perspectives

Abstract: Optical fiber sensors based on stimulated Brillouin scattering have now clearly demonstrated their excellent capability for long-range distributed strain and temperature measurements The fiber is used as sensing element, and a value for temperature and/or strain can be obtained from any point along the fiber After explaining the principle and presenting the standard implementation, the latest developments in this class of sensors will be introduced, such as the possibility to measure with a spatial resolution of 10 cm and below while preserving the full accuracy on the determination of temperature and strain

Brillouin optical time-domain analysis assisted by second-order Raman amplification

Abstract: We propose and experimentally demonstrate a new method to extend the range of Brillouin optical time domain analysis (BOTDA) systems. It exploits the virtual transparency created by second-order Raman pumping in optical fibers. The idea is theoretically analyzed and experimentally demonstrated in a 50 km fiber. By working close to transparency, we also show that the measurement length of the BOTDA can be increased up to 100 km with 2 meter resolution. We envisage extensions of this technique to measurement lengths well beyond this value, as long as the issue of relative intensity noise (RIN) of the primary Raman pump can be avoided.

Demonstration of Brillouin Distributed Discrimination of Strain and Temperature Using a Polarization-Maintaining Optical Fiber

Abstract: Distributed discrimination of strain and temperature is demonstrated by localizing both the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and the dynamic acoustic grating generated in the SBS process in a polarization-maintaining fiber with a correlation-domain continuous-wave technique. A 12- ?? strain resolution and 0.3°C temperature resolution together with a 10-cm spatial resolution are experimentally validated.

Potential of Brillouin scattering in polymer optical fiber for strain-insensitive high-accuracy temperature sensing.

Abstract: We investigated the dependences of Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) on strain and temperature in a perfluorinated graded-index polymer optical fiber (PFGI-POF) at 1.55μm wavelength. They showed negative dependences with coefficients of −121.8MHz/% and −4.09MHz/K, respectively, which are −0.2 and −3.5 times as large as those in silica fibers. These unique BFS dependences indicate that the Brillouin scattering in PFGI-POFs has a big potential for strain-insensitive high-accuracy temperature sensing.

Experimental evidence of short light pulse amplification using strong-coupling stimulated brillouin scattering in the pump depletion regime.

Abstract: The energy transfer from a long ($3.5\text{ }\mathrm{ps}$) pump pulse to a short ($400\text{ }\mathrm{fs}$) seed pulse due to stimulated Brillouin backscattering in the strong-coupling regime is investigated. The two pulses, both at the same wavelength of $1.057\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ are quasicounterpropagating in a preformed underdense plasma. Relative amplification factors for the seed pulse of up to $32$ are obtained. The maximum obtained amplified energy is $60\text{ }\mathrm{mJ}$. Simulations are in agreement with the experimental results and suggest paths for further improvement of the amplification scheme.

All-optical control of gigahertz acoustic resonances by forward stimulated interpolarization scattering in a photonic crystal fiber.

Abstract: We report the observation of a novel nonlinear optoacoustic phenomenon, that we name forward stimulated interpolarization scattering. When two frequency-offset laser signals are colaunched into orthogonally polarized guided modes of a birefringent small-core (1.8 μm diameter) photonic crystal fiber, a pattern of axially moving polarization fringes is produced, with a velocity and spacing that depends on the frequency offset. At values of frequency offset in the few-GHz range, the pattern of moving fringes can perfectly match the phase velocity and axial wavelength (3.9 mm) of the torsional-radial acoustic mode tightly guided in the core. An intense optoacoustic interaction ensues, leading to efficient nonlinear exchange of power from the higher frequency (pump) mode to the orthogonally polarized lower frequency (Stokes) mode. A full-vectorial theory is developed to explain the observations.

Truly distributed birefringence measurement of polarization-maintaining fibers based on transient Brillouin grating

Abstract: We report on what we believe to be the first truly distributed birefringence measurement of polarization-maintaining fibers (PMFs) based on transient Brillouin grating (TBG). A TBG is created by two short pump pulses in the slow axis of the PMF, and then the birefringence-related TBG spectrum is mapped by scanning a probe pulse launched in the fast axis, where the local birefringence can be calculated using the birefringence induced frequency shift. Two types of widely used PMFs, bow-tie and panda, with a length of 8 m were measured at a spatial resolution of 20 cm, and the results show that the birefringence features a periodic variation, and their variation ranges are ~2.4×10−6 and 1.3×10−6 along the test fibers, respectively.

Equation of state of water under negative pressure

Abstract: We report on the simultaneous measurements of the speed of sound and the density in liquid water under negative pressure. Application of a focused acoustic wave to the bulk liquid is able to generate negative pressures before nucleation of the vapor phase occurs. A method for time-resolved Brillouin scattering is developed to measure the speed of sound during the passage of a 1 MHz ultrasonic wave. This is coupled with a fiber optic probe hydrophone which allows the determination of the density. Together, these methods give an ambient temperature equation of state of metastable liquid water down to the acoustic cavitation threshold. Empirical equations of state of water are based on experimental data at positive pressure; the validity of their extrapolation to negative pressures had been tested only indirectly or with very weakly metastable liquid. We provide thermodynamic data that prove the fidelity of recent equations of state down to −26 MPa. However, this raises questions regarding the nature of the ...

High-Spatial-Resolution Time-Domain Simultaneous Strain and Temperature Sensor Using Brillouin Scattering and Birefringence in a Polarization-Maintaining Fiber

Abstract: We report on a high-spatial-resolution simultaneous strain and temperature measurement in time domain through measuring Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) and birefringence-induced frequency shift (BireFS) in a polarization-maintaining fiber. High-spatial-resolution BFS and BireFS measurement are obtained through differential pulsewidth pair Brillouin optical time-domain analysis and a local Brillouin grating, respectively. Simultaneous strain and temperature measurement with a spatial resolution of 20 cm is demonstrated in a 6-m Panda fiber. The temperature and strain accuracy is 0.4°C and 9 μe, and their range can be up to 700°C and 14 me, respectively.

Operation of Brillouin Optical Correlation-Domain Reflectometry: Theoretical Analysis and Experimental Validation

Abstract: We theoretically and experimentally analyze the operation of Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry (BOCDR). First, we experimentally confirm that BOCDR is not based on stimulated Brillouin scattering but on spontaneous Brillouin scattering. Then, we theoretically prove that the spatial resolution of BOCDR is given well by the same expression as that of Brillouin optical correlation-domain analysis (BOCDA). Finally, we demonstrate that the modulation amplitude of the laser frequency, which has been conventionally limited to a half of the Brillouin frequency shift, can be enhanced further by employing a sensing fiber shorter than a half of the measurement range.

Tunable millimeter-wave frequency synthesis up to 100 GHz by dual-wavelength Brillouin fiber laser.

Abstract: We demonstrate the generation of microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies from 26 to 100 GHz by heterodyning the output modes of a dual-wavelength fiber laser based on stimulated Brillouin scattering. The output frequency is tunable in steps of 10.3 MHz, equal to the free spectral range of the resonator. The noise properties of the beat frequency indicate a microwave linewidth of <2 Hz. We discuss potential for operation into the terahertz regime.

Bandwidth-efficient phase modulation techniques for stimulated Brillouin scattering suppression in fiber optic parametric amplifiers.

Abstract: Two novel bandwidth efficient pump-dithering Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) suppression techniques are introduced. The techniques employ a frequency-hopped chirp and an RF noise source to impart phase modulation on the pumps of a two pump Fiber Optical Parametric Amplifier (FOPA). The effectiveness of the introduced techniques is confirmed by measurements of the SBS threshold increase and the associated improvements relative to the current state of the art. Additionally, the effect on the idler signal integrity is presented as measured following amplification from a two pump FOPA employing both techniques. The measured 0.8 dB penalty with pumps dithered by an RF noise source, after accruing 160ps/nm of dispersion with 38 dB conversion gain in a two-pump FOPA is the lowest reported to date.

Coherent and spontaneous Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering in atomic and molecular gases and gas mixtures

Abstract: We study Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering in gases of N{sub 2}, O{sub 2}, and SF{sub 6} molecules, Kr atoms, and He-Xe and He-CO{sub 2} mixtures at pressures ranging from 1 to 3 bar and using two different experimental setups. In one setup, we measure spectra of light scattered by thermal density fluctuations (spontaneous Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering); in the second setup density waves are induced in the overlap region of two counterpropagating laser beams (coherent Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering). We compare measured spectra to the Tenti models and to a recent model for mixtures. We find new values of the bulk viscosity, which is a parameter in line-shape models that allows for internal degrees of freedom. Both experiments agree on the value of the bulk viscosity. Our results indicate a need for new line-shape models for mixtures of molecules with internal degrees of freedom.

Kilowatt-level stimulated-Brillouin-scattering-threshold monolithic transform-limited 100 ns pulsed fiber laser at 1530 nm

Abstract: We demonstrate a high-stimulated-Brillouin-scattering-threshold monolithic pulsed fiber laser in a master oscillator power amplifier configuration that can operate over the C band. In the power amplifier stage, we used a newly developed single-mode, polarization maintaining, and highly Er/Yb codoped phosphate fiber with a core diameter of 25 microm. A single-frequency actively Q-switched fiber laser was used to generate pulses in the hundreds of nanoseconds at 1530 nm. We have achieved peak power of 1.2 kW for 105 ns pulses at a repetition rate of 8 kHz, corresponding to a pulse energy of 0.126 mJ, with transform-limited linewidth and diffraction-limited beam quality.

Experimental study on stimulated Rayleigh scattering in optical fibers.

Abstract: The linewidth, the threshold, and frequency shift of the stimulated Rayleigh scattering (STRS) in single mode fiber (SMF-28e), large effective area fiber (LEAF) and polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) have been studied using heterodyne detection to separate the Brillouin scattering with a fiber laser for the first time to the best of our knowledge. Experimental results show that the linewidth of STRS and spontaneous Rayleigh scattering are ~9 kHz, ~10 kHz, and ~11 kHz, and ~25 kHz, ~30 kHz, and ~27 kHz for SMF-28e, LEAF and PMF, respectively. The threshold power for STRS for 2km SMF-28e, 7km LEAF, and 100m PMF are 11dBm, 4.5dBm and 16.5dBm, respectively. The measured Rayleigh gain coefficient is a 2 × 10−13 m/W for SMF-28e. Also, weak frequency shift could be observed when input power is large enough before SBS occurred. Because of the properties of narrower bandwidth and lower threshold power of STRS in fibers, some of applications, such as narrower filter, could be realized.

Power scaling analysis of fiber lasers and amplifiers based on non-silica materials

Abstract: A developed formalism for analyzing the power scaling of diffraction limited fiber lasers and amplifiers is applied to a wider range of materials. Limits considered include thermal rupture, thermal lensing, melting of the core, stimulated Raman scattering, stimulated Brillouin scattering, optical damage, bend induced limits on core diameter and limits to coupling of pump diode light into the fiber. For conventional fiber lasers based upon silica, the single aperture, diffraction limited power limit was found to be 36.6kW. This is a hard upper limit that results from an interaction of the stimulated Raman scattering with thermal lensing. This result is dependent only upon physical constants of the material and is independent of the core diameter or fiber length. Other materials will have different results both in terms of ultimate power out and which of the many limits is the determining factor in the results. Materials considered include silica doped with Tm and Er, YAG and YAG based ceramics and Yb doped phosphate glass. Pros and cons of the various materials and their current state of development will be assessed. In particular the impact of excess background loss on laser efficiency is discussed.

Observation of narrowband intrinsic spectra of Brillouin dynamic gratings

Abstract: We experimentally demonstrate that the reflection spectrum of a Brillouin dynamic grating in a polarization-maintaining fiber can be much narrower than the intrinsic linewidth of the stimulated Brillouin scattering, matching well with the theory of a fiber Bragg grating in terms of the linewidth and the reflectivity. A 3dB bandwidth as narrow as 10.5MHz is observed with the Brillouin dynamic grating generated in a 9m uniform fiber.

Bismuth-based erbium-doped fiber as a gain medium for L-band amplification and Brillouin fiber laser

Abstract: Bismuth-based erbium-doped fiber (Bi-EDF) is demonstrated as an alternative medium for optical amplification and nonlinear applications. The bismuth glass host provides the opportunity to be doped heavily with erbium ions to allow a compact optical amplifier design. The bismuth-based erbium-doped fiber amplifier (Bi-EDFA) is demonstrated to operate at wavelength region from 1570 to 1620 nm using only a 215 cm long of gain medium. The maximum gain of 15.8 dB is obtained at signal wavelength of 1610 nm with the corresponding noise figure of about 6.3 dB. A multi-wavelength laser comb is also demonstrated using a stimulated Brillouin scattering in the 215 cm long Bi-EDF assisted by the 1480 nm pumping. The laser generates more than 40 lines of optical comb with a line spacing of approximately 0.08 at 1612.5 nm region using 152 mW of 1480 nm pump power.

Mapping of localized spin-wave excitations by near-field Brillouin light scattering

Abstract: We report on the experimental study of the spatial characteristics of high-frequency spin-wave modes localized at the edges of micrometer-size in-plane magnetized permalloy ellipses. Using a near-field Brillouin light scattering technique, we have mapped the modes with the spatial resolution of few tens of nanometers. We show that the width of the localization area strongly depends on the applied magnetic field and reduces to about 85 nm for high fields. We also demonstrate that the existing theoretical models do not appropriately describe spatial characteristics of the modes.

Brillouin spectroscopy of YAG-derived optical fibers.

Abstract: We present Brillouin spectroscopy of YAG-derived optical fibers. It is found that the addition of yttria and alumina both tend to raise the acoustic velocity when added to silica, with the change due to yttria being much weaker. The temperature-dependence of the Stokes’s shift in the YAG-derived fibers is also measured, disclosing a lesser temperature dependence than conventional Ge-doped fibers. These fibers are found experimentally to have a substantially larger acoustic attenuation coefficient relative to that of bulk silica, and assuming a photoelastic constant of amorphous YAG similar to that of pure crystalline YAG, a much-reduced Brillouin gain coefficient as a result. A 40 weight percent yttria and alumina fiber has a Brillouin gain coefficient estimated to be roughly one sixth of pure silica. We also show that the addition of Er to the YAG-derived system decreases the acoustic velocity and broadens the Brillouin spectrum.

Effects of pump recycling technique on stimulated Brillouin scattering threshold: a theoretical model

Abstract: We develop a theoretical model that can be used to predict stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) threshold in optical fibers that arises through the effect of Brillouin pump recycling technique. Obtained simulation results from our model are in close agreement with our experimental results. The developed model utilizes single mode optical fiber of different lengths as the Brillouin gain media. For 5-km long single mode fiber, the calculated threshold power for SBS is about 16 mW for conventional technique. This value is reduced to about 8 mW when the residual Brillouin pump is recycled at the end of the fiber. The decrement of SBS threshold is due to longer interaction lengths between Brillouin pump and Stokes wave.