Ultrasensitive, high-dynamic-range and broadband strain sensing by time-of-flight detection with femtosecond-laser frequency combs

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel ultrahigh-resolution fiber optic strain sensor using time-of-flight detection with femtosecond laser frequency combs, achieving exceptional sensitivity and dynamic range suitable for scientific and engineering applications.

Contribution

The authors introduce a new strain sensing method based on TOF detection with femtosecond laser frequency combs, achieving unprecedented resolution and dynamic range in fiber sensors.

Findings

Achieved local strain resolution of 18 pε/Hz^1/2 at 1 Hz

Demonstrated remote sensing at 1 km with 80 pε/Hz^1/2 resolution

Large dynamic range of over 154 dB at 3 kHz

Abstract

Ultrahigh-resolution optical strain sensors provide powerful tools in various scientific and engineering fields, ranging from long-baseline interferometers to civil and aerospace industries. Here we demonstrate an ultrahigh-resolution fibre strain sensing method by directly detecting the time-of-flight (TOF) change of the optical pulse train generated from a free-running passively mode-locked laser (MLL) frequency comb. We achieved a local strain resolution of 18 p{\epsilon}/Hz1/2 and 1.9 p{\epsilon}/Hz1/2 at 1 Hz and 3 kHz, respectively, with largedynamic range of >154 dB at 3 kHz. For remote-point sensing at 1-km distance, 80 p{\epsilon}/Hz1/2 (at 1 Hz) and 2.2 p{\epsilon}/Hz1/2 (at 3 kHz) resolution is demonstrated. While attaining both ultrahigh resolution and large dynamic range, the demonstrated method can be readily extended for multiple-point sensing as well by taking advantage of the broad optical comb spectra. These advantages may allow various applications of this sensor in geophysical science, structural health monitoring, and underwater science.