Standard Telecom Fiber Research Articles

Energy-managed soliton fiber laser

Ultrafast fiber lasers constitute a flexible platform to investigate new solitary wave concepts. To surpass the low energy limitation of the conventional solitons generated in standard telecom fibers, successive breakthroughs have promoted the usage of an important frequency chirping within fiber oscillators. This lead to original solitary wave regimes such as stretched-pulse, all-normal-dispersion, and self-similar dynamics. We here revisit ultrafast fiber lasers built from standard optical fibers featuring solely anomalous dispersion. We propose a new cavity design enhancing key dissipative effects with contained frequency chirping and demonstrate the generation of high energy pulses in the few-picoseconds regime. The involved intracavity dynamics blends conventional and dissipative soliton features in an unseen way with low- and high-energy propagation regions, allowing an increased flexibility and novel scalability prospects.

Регенерация волоконных брэгговских решеток, записанных поточечным методом с помощью излучения фемтосекундного лазера

The relevance of studies on the thermal stability of fiber Bragg gratings arises from the prospects of their applications in difficult operating conditions at elevated temperatures. One of the highest-temperature types of such structures formed in silica glass fibers are regenerated Bragg gratings. Generally, the regeneration effect is observed in gratings inscribed in molecular hydrogen-loaded fibers and/or in highly-doped germanosilicate fibers. This paper describes the first reported regeneration of gratings created via point-by-point inscription with femtosecond laser radiation in standard telecommunication fiber Corning SMF-28 without the presence of hydrogen in technological processes. The paper proposes an explanation of the possible mechanism for the formation of such regenerated structures.

Acceleration of Service Life Testing by Using Weibull Distribution on Fiber Optical Connectors

The service life assessment of previous fatigue stress has a fundamental role in estimating the reliability of products like fiber optical connectors, and should replicate use in severe environments in telecommunications systems. However, the vibration prediction models used in the literature present limitations in vibration life prediction. In this paper, we propose using the insertion loss fatigue life and including it in the Weibull distribution to determine the Weibull parameters ƞ and β to evaluate fiber optic connector reliability R(t) under environmental and mechanical testing stress. We analyzed the failure data of a standard telecommunication fiber optical connector under a program of service life stress testing against that of a fiber optical connector under only mechanical vibration stress testing. The fiber connectors were monitored during the vibration testing to review the transient change of the optical signal. Their results showed that the reliability of the fiber connectors submitted to the service life program was Rt=0.694, while that of the fiber connectors submitted to mechanical vibration only was Rt=0.970. In addition, the analysis showed that the service life testing consumed 70.2% of the product’s lifetime. We present in Numerical Validation the steps to determine the acceleration factors of the vibration test developed.

Technology and research on the influence of liquid crystal cladding doped with magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles on light propagation in an optical taper sensor

The results obtained for new dual-cladding optical fiber tapers surrounded by liquid crystal (LC) doped with Fe3O4 nanoparticles in a specially developed glass cell are presented. The created structures are sensitive to changes in refractive index values in the surrounding medium caused by modifying external environment parameters. In this investigation, cells are filled with nematic LCs 6CHBT and with the same mixture doped with 0.1 wt% and 0.5 wt% of magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs). The taper is made on a standard single-mode telecommunication fiber, stretched out to a length of 20.0 ± 0.5 mm, and the diameter of the tapers is approximately 15.0 ± 0.3 μm, with a loss lower than 0.5 dB @ 1,550 nm. Measurements are carried out in a wide range covering the visible and infrared ranges in two setups: 1) without a magnetic field, with steering only by voltage and 2) with an applied magnetic field. The presented spectrum results are divided into two ranges according to the parameters of optical spectrum analyzers: 350–1,200 nm and 1,200–2,400 nm. For all investigations, a steering voltage is chosen from the range of 0 to 200 V, which allows for establishing the influence of dopants on transmitted power and time response at different arrangements. Due to the sensitivity of LCs to temperature changes, this paper focuses on measuring at room temperature the effect of the magnetic field on propagation in a fiber optic taper. The proposed solution demonstrates the technology for creating advanced components as a combination of fiber optic technology, LCs, and nanoparticles. The presented results show the possibility of creating new sensors of various external factors such as magnetic or electric fields in miniaturized dimensions.

High-rate intercity quantum key distribution with a semiconductor single-photon source

Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables the transmission of information that is secure against general attacks by eavesdroppers. The use of on-demand quantum light sources in QKD protocols is expected to help improve security and maximum tolerable loss. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are a promising building block for quantum communication applications because of the deterministic emission of single photons with high brightness and low multiphoton contribution. Here we report on the first intercity QKD experiment using a bright deterministic single photon source. A BB84 protocol based on polarisation encoding is realised using the high-rate single photons in the telecommunication C-band emitted from a semiconductor QD embedded in a circular Bragg grating structure. Utilising the 79 km long link with 25.49 dB loss (equivalent to 130 km for the direct-connected optical fibre) between the German cities of Hannover and Braunschweig, a record-high secret key bits per pulse of 4.8 × 10−5 with an average quantum bit error ratio of ~ 0.65% are demonstrated. An asymptotic maximum tolerable loss of 28.11 dB is found, corresponding to a length of 144 km of standard telecommunication fibre. Deterministic semiconductor sources therefore challenge state-of-the-art QKD protocols and have the potential to excel in measurement device independent protocols and quantum repeater applications.

Characterization of Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Slug Flow Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing in Horizontal Pipes.

This article discusses the use of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) for monitoring gas-liquid two-phase slug flow in horizontal pipes, using standard telecommunication fiber optics connected to a DAS integrator for data acquisition. The experiments were performed in a 14 m long, 5 cm diameter transparent PVC pipe with a fiber cable helically wrapped around the pipe. Using mineral oil and compressed air, the system captured various flow rates and gas-oil ratios. New algorithms were developed to characterize slug flow using DAS data, including slug frequency, translational velocity, and the lengths of slug body, slug unit, and the liquid film region that had never been discussed previously. This study employed a high-speed camera next to the fiber cable sensing section for validation purposes and achieved a good correlation among the measurements under all conditions tested. Compared to traditional multiphase flow sensors, this technology is non-intrusive and offers continuous, real-time measurement across long distances and in harsh environments, such as subsurface or downhole conditions. It is cost-effective, particularly where multiple measurement points are required. Characterizing slug flow in real time is crucial to many industries that suffer slug-flow-related issues. This research demonstrated the DAS's potential to characterize slug flow quantitively. It will offer the industry a more optimal solution for facility design and operation and ensure safer operational practices.

High key rate continuous-variable quantum key distribution using telecom optical components

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is one quantum technology that can provide secure encryption keys for data transmission. The secret key rate (SKR) is a core performance indicator in QKD, which directly determines the transmission rate of enciphered data. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate a high-key-rate Gaussian-modulated continuous-variable QKD (CV-QKD) using telecom optical components. The framework of CV-QKD over these components is constructed. Specifically, the high-rate low-noise Gaussian modulation of coherent states is realized by a classical optical IQ modulator. High-baud low-intensity quantum signals are received by an integrated coherent receiver under the shot-noise limit. A series of digital signal processing algorithms are proposed to achieve accurate signal recovery and key distillation. The system can yield a high asymptotic SKR of 10.37 Mbps within 20 km standard telecom fiber, and the secure distance can exceed 100 km. This result confirms the feasibility of CV-QKD with state-of-the-art performance using telecom optical components. Besides, due to the ease of integrating these discrete components, it provides a high-performance and miniaturized QKD solution for the metropolitan quantum network.

Design, Optimization, and Experimental Evaluation of Slow Light Generated by π-Phase-Shifted Fiber Bragg Grating for Use in Sensing Applications.

This paper describes design, theoretical analysis, and experimental evaluation of a π-Phase-Shifted Fiber Bragg Grating (π-PSFBG) inscribed in the standard telecom fiber for slow light generation. At first, the grating was designed for its use in the reflection mode with a central wavelength of 1552 nm and a pass band width of less than 100 pm. The impact of fabrication imperfections was experimentally investigated and compared to model predictions. The optical spectra obtained experimentally show that the spectral region used for slow light generation is narrower (less than 10 pm), thus allowing for too-low levels of slow light optical-output power. In the next step, the optimization of the grating design was conducted to account for fabrication errors, to improve the grating's spectral behavior and its temporal performance, and to widen the spectral interval for slow light generation in the grating's transmission mode. The targeted central wavelength was 1553 nm. The π-PSFBG was then commercially fabricated, and the achieved parameters were experimentally investigated. For the region of (1551-1554) nm, a 15-fold increase in the grating's pass band width was achieved. We have shown that a pair of retarded optical pulses were generated. The measured group delay was found to be ~10.5 ps (compared to 19 ps predicted by the model). The π-PSFBG operating in its transmission mode has the potential to operate as tunable delay line for applications in RF photonics, ultra-fast signal processing, and optical communications, where tunable high precision delay lines are highly desirable. The π-PSFBG can be designed and used for the generation of variable group delays from tens to hundreds of ps, depending on application needs.

Flat supercontinuum spanning 738-2200 nm generation in standard telecom fibers based on dual-wavelength pumping scheme

Flat supercontinuum spanning 738-2200 nm generation in standard telecom fibers based on dual-wavelength pumping scheme

Soliton molecules order control and their propagation features in an anomalous dispersion optical fiber

We report the experimental generation of soliton molecules (SM) with a controlled number of pulses in an all-fiber erbium laser. The change in the number of pulses (from 7 to 18 coupled states) occurred without changing time- separation between pulses. The ability to increase or decrease the number of pulses is repeatable and easily controlled by changing the pump power in both directions without changing the output characteristics of the reported regime. The average pulse duration was < 0.5 ps at full width at half maximum with a time interval between pulses of ∼ 4.7 ps.We also experimentally and numerically studied the evolution of soliton molecules regime with N = 23 during propagation along a standard telecommunication fiber with anomalous dispersion. In this case, we observed the appearance of a dispersive wave, which led to a rapid broadening of the pulses and the subsequent decay of the SM.

Long-term monitoring and analysis of Brood X cicada activity by distributed fiber optic sensing technology.

Brood X is the largest of the 15 broods of periodical cicadas, and individuals from this brood emerged across the Eastern United States in spring 2021. Using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology, the activity of Brood X cicadas was monitored in their natural environment in Princeton, NJ. Critical information regarding their acoustic signatures and activity level is collected and analyzed using standard outdoor-grade telecommunication fiber cables. We believe these results have the potential to be a quantitative baseline for regional Brood X activity and pave the way for more detailed monitoring of insect populations to combat global insect decline. We also show that it is possible to transform readily available fiber optic networks into environmental sensors with no additional installation costs. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use case of a distributed fiber optic sensing system for entomological sciences and environmental studies.

Spectral Self-Compression of Chirp-Free Pulses in Anomalously Dispersive Optical Fibers

In this work, we demonstrated, both experimentally and numerically, the existence of a chirp-free pulse propagation regime within a standard single-mode fiber. We found numerically that the pulse spectrum can undergo self-compression by more than a hundredfold, resulting in the creation of a spectrally limited pulse. In this regime, we experimentally achieved a 5× spectral self-compression, reducing the spectral width from 75 nm to 15 nm within the 1.3–1.5 μm spectral range. This was achieved with a standard telecommunication fiber with constant dispersion.

Pilot-scale testing of natural gas pipeline monitoring based on phase-OTDR and enhanced scatter optical fiber cable

In this paper, we present the results of lab and pilot-scale testing of a continuously enhanced backscattering, or Rayleigh enhanced fiber cable that can improve distributed acoustic sensing performance. In addition, the Rayleigh-enhanced fiber is embedded within a tight buffered cable configuration to withstand and be compatible for field applications. The sensing fiber cable exhibits a Rayleigh enhancement of 13 dB compared to standard silica single-mode fiber while maintaining low attenuation of ≤ 0.4 dB/km. We built a phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry system to interrogate the enhanced backscattering fiber cable both in lab and pilot-scale tests. In the laboratory experiment, we analyzed the vibration performance of the enhanced backscattering fiber cable and compared it with the standard single-mode telecom fiber. Afterward, we field validated for natural gas pipeline vibration monitoring using a 4-inch diameter steel pipeline operating at a fixed pressure level of 1000 psi, and a flow rate of 5, 10, 15, and 20 ft/s. The feasibility of gas pipeline monitoring with the proposed enhanced backscattering fiber cable shows a substantial increase in vibration sensing performance. The pilot-scale testing results demonstrated in this paper enable pipeline operators to perform accurate flow monitoring, leak detection, third-party intrusion detection, and continuous pipeline ground movement.

An Optical-Fiber-Based Key for Remote Authentication of Users and Optical Fiber Lines.

We have shown the opportunity to use the unique inhomogeneities of the internal structure of an optical fiber waveguide for remote authentication of users or an optic fiber line. Optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) is demonstrated to be applicable to observing unclonable backscattered signal patterns at distances of tens of kilometers. The physical nature of the detected patterns was explained, and their characteristic spatial periods were investigated. The patterns are due to the refractive index fluctuations of a standard telecommunication fiber. We have experimentally verified that the patterns are an example of a physically unclonable function (PUF). The uniqueness and reproducibility of the patterns have been demonstrated and an outline of authentication protocol has been proposed.

Towards single-photon Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry.

We investigate a novel distributed Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR) using standard telecommunication fibers based on single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) in gated mode, ν -BOTDR, with a range of 120 km and 10 m spatial resolution. We experimentally demonstrate the ability to perform a distributed temperature measurement, by detecting a hot spot at 100 km. Instead of using a frequency scan like conventional BOTDR, we use a frequency discriminator based on the slope of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) to convert the count rate of the SPAD into a frequency shift. A procedure to take into account the FBG drift during the acquisition and perform sensitive and reliable distributed measurements is described. We also present the possibility to differentiate strain and temperature.

Propagation of transverse photonic orbital angular momentum through few-mode fiber

Spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) pulses can carry transverse orbital angular momentum (OAM) that is perpendicular to the direction of pulse propagation. For a STOV pulse, its spatiotemporal profile can be significantly distorted due to unbalanced dispersive and diffractive phases. This may limit its use in many research applications, where a long interaction length and a tight confinement of the pulse are needed. The first demonstration of STOV pulse propagation through a few-mode optical fiber is presented. Both numerical and experimental analysis on the propagation of STOV pulse through a commercially available SMF-28 standard telecommunication fiber is performed. The spatiotemporal phase feature of the pulse can be well kept after the pulse propagates a few-meter length through the fiber even with bending. Further propagation of the pulse will result in a breakup of its spatiotemporal spiral phase structure due to an excessive amount of modal group delay dispersion. The stable and robust transmission of transverse photonic OAM through optical fiber may open new opportunities for transverse photonic OAM studies in telecommunications, OAM lasers, and nonlinear fiber-optical research.

Experimental characterization of a Raman based distributed temperature sensor using a 1064 nm pump

In this work, we present proof-of-concept of a Raman based distributed temperature sensor using standard telecommunication fiber as the sensing element. To allow coexistence with data transmission, a pump source with a wavelength of 1064 nm is used. The proposed DTS is characterized in the range of 20 °C to 100 °C, using the ratio between the Raman band’s powers linearized. We established a characteristic curve of the sensor with a sensitivity of 0.0018±0.0001 /°C, showing that the proposed DTS can detect temperature variations. This work is the first step forward in the development of distributed sensors that coexist with data transmission over the same optical fiber.

Distributing Polarization-Entangled Photon Pairs with High Rate Over Long Distances through Standard Telecommunication Fiber

Entanglement distribution over long distances is essential for many quantum communication schemes like quantum teleportation, some variants of quantum key distribution, or implementations of a quantum internet. Distributing entanglement through standard telecommunication fiber is particularly important for quantum key distribution protocols with low vulnerability over metropolitan distances. However, entanglement distribution over long distance through optical fiber so far could only be accomplished with moderate photon pair rates. In this work, we present entanglement distribution over 50km of standard telecommunication fiber with pair rate more than 10,000 s$^{-1}$ using a bright non-degenerate photon pair source. Signal and idler wavelengths of this source are optimized for low dispersion in optical fiber and high efficiency for single-photon avalanche diode detectors, respectively. The resulting modest hardware requirement and high rate of detected entangled photon pairs could significantly enhance practical entanglement-based quantum key distribution in existing metropolitan fiber networks.

Optical Properties of a Tapered Optical Fiber Coated with Alkanes Doped with Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

The presented research shows the possibilities of creating in-line magnetic sensors based on the detection of changes of light propagation parameters, especially polarization, obtained by mixing Fe3O4 nanoparticles with hexadecane (higher alkane) surrounding a biconical optical fiber taper. The fiber optic taper allows to directly influence light parameters inside the taper without the necessity to lead the beam out of the structure. The mixture of hexadecane and Fe3O4 nanoparticles forms a special cladding surrounding a fiber taper which can be controlled by external factors such as the magnetic field. Described studies show changes of transmission (power, loss) and polarization properties like azimuth, and ellipticity, depending on the location of the mixture on sections of tapered optical fiber. The taper was made of a standard single-mode telecommunication fiber, stretched out to a length of 20.0 ± 0.5 mm and the diameter of the tapers is around 15.0 ± 0.3 μm, with the loss lower than 0.5 dB @ 1550 nm. Such a taper causes the beam to leak out of the waist structure and allows the addition of the external beam-controlling cladding material. The presented research can be used to build polarization switches or optical sensor. The results show that it can be a new way to control the propagation parameters of a light beam using tapered optical fiber and magnetic mixture.

Improving OFDR Distributed Fiber Sensing by Fibers With Enhanced Rayleigh Backscattering and Image Processing

This article investigates using optical fibers with enhanced backscattering profiles to improve distributed fiber sensor performance and reduce instrumentation costs. Using a femtosecond (fs) laser direct writing technique, the Rayleigh backscattering profile of a standard telecom fiber was enhanced by more than 40 dB to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR). The enhanced backscattering signals enable effectively distributed strain measurements using a low-cost tunable laser (TL). Median filtering is applied to denoise cross correlation results to further improve measurement outcomes. Results presented in this article show that a TL with a 1-nm tuning range, which is far less than the tuning range used in commercial OFDR interrogators, can perform effectively distributed strain measurements using sensing fibers with enhanced backscattering profiles. The sensing fiber with over 40-dB backscattering enhancement achieved 4.8-cm spatial resolution in strain measurements with a root mean square accuracy of less than 2.70 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \varepsilon $ </tex-math></inline-formula> when 10–50 <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \varepsilon $ </tex-math></inline-formula> were exerted to the sensing fiber. Results presented in this article reveal both the potential and limitations of sensing fibers with enhanced backscattering for OFDR-based distributed fiber sensors.