Optical fibres offer great flexibility in taking precise optical measurement techniques and making them a practical and robust sensor option for real world instrumentation. Our interest include point sensors fabricated onto the end of fibres; fibre Bragg grating sensors; Long Period Grating sensors; and novel sensor embedding.
Distributed Fibre Sensors
Point of contact: Dr. Bill MacPherson
Distributed fibre optic sensors show great promise in applications requiring monitoring over long distances (kilometres). By taking advantage of different forms of backscattering in the fibre, a range of sensors can be produced. Rayleigh, Raman and Brillouin scattering are three mechanisms of backscatter which can occur in an optical fibre under light excitation.
Due to the fundamental mechanisms behind them, the temperature, strain (or shape, depending on the configuration) can be detected at any point along the fibre by measuring the backscatter as a function of time. Demand in a number of industries including aerospace, land transportation and offshore energy is increasing for fully distributed and accurate measurements of these quantities at both hundreds of kilometres and over shorter ranges (metres) for component monitoring. The goal of this research is to determine how accurately this demand can be met and over what distances.
Bill Macpherson
Project Lead
James Jackson
EngD Student
Collaborators: Fraunhofer CAP
