Noise Performance of Multiplexed Fiber-Optic Sensor Systems with Optical Amplifiers

Abstract

The signal to noise ratio (SNR) of a multiplexed fiber-optic sensor network can be improved by inserting fiber-optic amplifiers. Several configurations of amplifiers in the sensor network are analyzed. A single fiber-optic amplifier used as a preamplifier is a good solution with high SNR. However, by distributing amplifiers in the network even higher SNR can be obtained, and identical couplers can be used throughout the network.