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Long-range fiber-optic earthquake sensing by active phase noise cancellation
Sebastian Noe1, Dominik Husmann2, Nils Müller1
1Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland.
Scientific Reports
|August 26, 2023
Summary
We developed a new fiber-optic sensor using phase noise cancellation (PNC) to detect environmental deformations like earthquakes. This method leverages existing metrological networks for long-range sensing without extra equipment.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Geophysics
- Optical Engineering
Background:
- Metrological frequency dissemination networks are typically used for precise timing.
- Environmental monitoring often requires dedicated, specialized sensing equipment.
- Existing infrastructure limitations hinder long-range environmental sensing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel long-range fiber-optic environmental deformation sensor.
- To demonstrate the feasibility of using phase noise cancellation (PNC) for sensing.
- To validate the sensor's performance using real-world data and simulations.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing active phase noise cancellation (PNC) in metrological frequency dissemination.
- Exploiting discarded compensation frequency recordings for sensing.
- Employing spectral-element wavefield simulations for complex cable geometry analysis.
- Comparing observed and computed compensation frequency recordings.
Main Results:
- PNC sensing successfully detected environmental deformations, including a magnitude 3.9 earthquake.
- Quantitative agreement in phase and amplitude was achieved between observed and computed data.
- The system demonstrated compatibility with inline amplification for interrogation of cables >1000 km.
- Existing phase-stabilized metrological networks can be repurposed for environmental sensing.
Conclusions:
- Phase noise cancellation (PNC) sensing offers a viable, low-cost method for long-range environmental monitoring.
- The technology can be integrated into existing metrological infrastructure, enabling co-use.
- This approach holds significant potential for applications like earthquake detection and early warning systems, particularly in oceanic environments.
