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Towards REPO4 nanocrystal-doped optical fibers for distributed sensing applications
V Fuertes1, N Grégoire2, P Labranche2
1Centre d'optique, Photonique et Laser, Université Laval, 2375 Rue de la Terrasse, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada. victor.fuertes-de-la-llave.1@ulaval.ca.
Scientific Reports
|August 9, 2023
Summary
This study introduces Yttrium Phosphate (YPO4) nanocrystals for enhanced Rayleigh scattering in optical fibers, enabling tunable distributed sensing. The research clarifies fabrication impacts, paving the way for advanced sensing technologies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nanoparticle-doped optical fibers offer enhanced Rayleigh scattering for distributed sensing.
- Current fabrication methods are limited in composition and sensitive to experimental conditions.
- The influence of fiber drawing on nanoparticle characteristics and optical properties remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of Yttrium Phosphate (YPO4) nanocrystals for fabricating tunable Rayleigh scattering enhanced nanoparticle-doped optical fibers.
- To elucidate the effects of the fiber drawing process on YPO4 nanocrystal characteristics and their impact on scattering enhancement and optical loss.
- To overcome limitations of existing alkaline earth-based nanoparticle technologies.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of optical fibers doped with YPO4 nanocrystals.
- 3D microstructural analysis to study nanocrystal features and their relation to the drawing process.
- Optical Backscatter Reflectometry (OBR) to measure enhanced backscattering and optical losses.
Main Results:
- YPO4 nanocrystals maintain their features when fibers are drawn below 1950°C, ensuring homogeneous properties.
- Achieved tunable enhanced backscattering from 15.3 to 54.3 dB compared to SMF-28 fiber.
- Measured two-way optical losses ranging from 0.3 to 160.7 dB/m, enabling sensing lengths up to 58 meters.
Conclusions:
- YPO4 nanocrystals are suitable for developing tunable Rayleigh scattering enhanced nanoparticle-doped optical fibers.
- Fiber drawing process parameters, particularly temperature, critically influence nanocrystal characteristics and optical performance.
- This work opens possibilities for incorporating other rare-earth orthophosphate (REPO4) nanocrystals for advanced distributed sensing applications.
