Adaptive Phase Noise Cancellation Technique for Fiber-Optic Interferometric Sensors

Abstract

The optical source phase noise is one of the main factors influencing the noise performance of fiber-optic interferometric measurement systems. The phase noise is directly proportional to the optical path length difference of the interferometer and wavelength instability of the optical source. Conventional phase noise suppression techniques involve the use of highly stable optical sources and reduction of path length differences of sensing interferometers. However, such methods are not always appropriate for all interferometric configurations. Alternative phase noise suppression techniques suggest the use of an auxiliary reference interferometer for independent measurements of the phase noise. In this case, the phase noise signal can be directly subtracted from the sensor signal. But equal path length differences are required for all interferometers in the measurement system. In this paper, an adaptive phase noise cancellation technique for fiber-optic interferometric sensors is presented. The proposed technique is based on the real-time evaluation of optical path length differences for all interferometers in the measurement system. This approach doesn't require identical path length differences and takes into account their variations caused by environmental conditions. Thus, the optical source phase noise can be independently measured by the reference interferometer and subtracted from the sensor signal with the required attenuation. The results of experimental investigations of the proposed technique for two types of interferometric schemes are presented. It is shown that the proposed technique demonstrates the phase noise reduction up to 30 dB in the frequency range up to 500 Hz.