Remote temperature sensing with a low-threshold-power erbium-doped fiber laser

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Sensing
• Fiber Optic Technology
• Laser Physics

Background:

• Fiber lasers offer unique advantages for sensing applications due to their robustness and remote sensing capabilities.
• Accurate and stable temperature sensing is crucial in various industrial and scientific fields.
• Existing fiber laser sensors may require high pump power or exhibit lower sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a temperature sensor based on a single-wavelength erbium-doped fiber laser.
• To investigate the performance characteristics of the developed fiber laser sensor, including sensitivity and stability.
• To compare the sensor's performance with existing fiber laser temperature sensing technologies.

Main Methods:

• A linear cavity fiber laser configuration was employed, utilizing a fiber Bragg grating and distributed Rayleigh feedback.
• Erbium-doped fiber was used for laser amplification, enabling low threshold pump power.
• The sensor's response to temperature variations was measured over a specific range (30°C-90°C).

Main Results:

• The erbium-doped fiber laser demonstrated a low threshold pump power of 10.6 mW.
• The laser exhibited excellent stability, with power fluctuations below 0.37 dB over 30 minutes.
• A temperature sensitivity of 10.6 pm/°C was achieved for the fiber laser sensor.

Conclusions:

• The developed erbium-doped fiber laser serves as an effective temperature sensor.
• The sensor offers comparable sensitivity to Raman-based fiber lasers but requires lower pump power.
• This technology presents a promising, stable, and efficient solution for temperature sensing applications.