Polarization scrambling in interferometer systems

摘要

A system and method to obtain and process interferometer output scans is described. The interferometer-based sensor system includes a tunable laser to transmit a transmit signal and a polarization scrambler to produce a polarization state change on the transmit signal. The system also includes an interferometer to provide an output scan based on the transmit signal with the polarization state change and a processor to process the output scan.

主权项

1. An interferometer-based sensor system, comprising:
a tunable laser configured to transmit a transmit signal; a polarization scrambler configured to change a polarization state of the transmit signal prior to each scan such that the polarization state of the transmit signal for one scan differs from the polarization state of the transmit signal for another scan; an interferometer configured to provide an output scan based on the transmit signal with the polarization state change for each scan, the interferometer comprising one or more fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and a reference reflector and the output scan resulting from interference between a reflection signal from the reference reflector with a reflection signal from one of the one or more FBGs; and a processor configured to process the output scan.