On-chip Distributed Fiber Sensing based on Stimulated Brillouin Scattering

Abstract

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in optical fibers has emerged as a promising distributed sensing technique. SBS-based sensing leverages the temperature and strain dependence of the frequency shift in Brillouin scattering to achieve high-resolution distributed measurement of these parameters along the fiber length. However, present SBS systems face limitations in size, cost, and compatibility with fiber to the home (FTTH) infrastructure. We proposes an innovative on-chip SBS system implemented with silicon photonics to address these limitations. The key novelty lies in the monolithic integration of all active and passive components, including lasers, onto a single photonic chip using transfer printing technology. This miniaturization enhances portability while the batch fabrication reduces costs. Significantly, the study designs the system for seamless incorporation into FTTH networks by positioning the readout unit at the central office. The approach circumvents any active components at the residential end, minimizing interference with fiber communication services. Our work will involve replacing the two laser configuration with one laser and an on-chip frequency shifter. The outcome promises an affordable Brillouin distributed sensor poised for diverse applications from robotics to fire sensing and structural health monitoring. Overall, this research aligns SBS technology with existing telecom infrastructure and integrated photonics, unlocking immense potential.