Work

Brillouin Optical Correlation‐Domain Reflectometry With Polymer Fibers Under Scrambled Polarization Enabled by Angled Connections

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Polymer optical fibers (POFs) are attractive for Brillouin optical correlation‐domain reflectometry (BOCDR) because of their flexibility and high strain tolerance. However, their low Brillouin frequency shift causes spectral overlap with Fresnel reflections, limiting the use of polarization scrambling. We show that angled physical contact (APC) connections suppress these reflections and enable reliable distributed sensing under scrambled polarization states. Distributed strain measurements performed with a 6‐m POF reveal that conventional physical contact (PC) connections fail to detect strain, whereas APC connections yield Brillouin signals with a high signal‐to‐noise ratio and correctly measure a 0.65% strain.

Source: Advanced Sensor Research

DOI: 10.1002/adsr.202500165

Authors: Shimbu Shirai, Yoshikazu Kobayashi, Osakazu Kimoto, Andreas Ioannou, Kyriacos Kalli, Yosuke Mizuno

Institutions: Yokohama National University, Cyprus University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Fiber Optic Sensors

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,750

Funders: Telecommunications Advancement Foundation, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science