Probing the Ultimate Limit of Fiber-optic Strain Sensing
Year: 2010
Authors: Gagliardi G., Salza M., Avino S., Ferraro P., De Natale P.
Autors Affiliation: Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche – Istituto Nazionale DiOttica (INO), European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Comprensorio A. Olivetti, Via Campi Flegrei 34, I-80078 Pozzuoli (Naples), Italy; Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, INO, LENS, Largo E. Fermi 6, I-50125 Firenze, Italy
Abstract: The measurement of relative displacements and deformations is important in many fields such as structural engineering, aerospace, geophysics, and nanotechnology. Optical-fiber sensors have become key tools for strain measurements, with sensitivity limits ranging between 10(-9) and 10(-6)epsilon hertz (Hz)(-1/2) (where epsilon is the fractional length change). We report on strain measurements at the 10(-13)epsilon-Hz(-1/2) level using a fiber Bragg-grating resonator with a diode-laser source that is stabilized against a quartz-disciplined optical frequency comb, thus approaching detection limits set by thermodynamic phase fluctuations in the fiber. This scheme may provide a route to a new generation of strain sensors that is entirely based on fiber-optic systems, which are aimed at measuring fundamental physical quantities; for example, in gyroscopes, accelerometers, and gravity experiments.
Journal/Review: SCIENCE
Volume: 330 (6007) Pages from: 1081 to: 1084
More Information: We thank M. Prevedelli, A. Arie, M. De Rosa, and J. H. Chow for helpful discussions. Technical assistance on the electronic setup was provided by R. Abbate, who passed away in September 2008. We thank Avanex Corp. (San Donato, Milan, Italy) for kindly providing part of the equipment. This experiment was partly funded by Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze.KeyWords: Deformation mechanism; Displacement; Frequency analysis; Geophysics; Measurement method; Quartz; Sensitivity analysis; Thermodynamics, article; Fiber optics; Optical biosensor; Piezoelectricity; Priority journal; Strain gauge transducer; ThermodynamicsDOI: 10.1126/science.1195818ImpactFactor: 31.377Citations: 190data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-09-29References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)Connecting to view paper tab on IsiWeb: Click hereConnecting to view citations from IsiWeb: Click here