Detecting Ultrasound Using Optical Fibres

Abstract

Optical fibre techniques for detecting ultrasonic waves are, in principle, well established. The ultrasonic wave could impose a pressure and/or strain field on an optical fibre in its path and this pressure and/or strain modulation would in turn be observed as a change in optical delay along the fibre length. The delay change may be detected interferometrically, polarimetrically or through using the induced strain changes in Bragg gratings. The resulting fibre optic detection system can perform as well in terms of signal to noise ratio over specified bandwidths as more established piezoelectric ceramic detectors. Additionally fibre systems can also perform some signal processing, particularly beam forming, and have inherently much higher spatial and temporal bandwidth than the piezoceramic precursor. This paper explores some of the options available for the use of fibre optics in detecting ultrasound and demonstrates the elements of basic signal processing techniques including examples of source location (equivalent to fault detection) and optical fibre beam forming. Whilst these functions can be performed using piezoceramics, and indeed can be made more adaptable through electronic element by element processing on large arrays, fibre optic systems in contrast offer substantial benefits in terms of a much simplified array interconnect (only the fibre itself is required) and material compatibility especially for high performance high strain range mechanical systems.