Novel fiber sensor arrays using erbium-doped fiber amplifiers

Abstract

We examine the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performance of a novel type of time domain multiplexed sensor arrays in which low gain (1-10 dB) fiber amplifiers are incorporated to compensate for splitting losses between sensors. The system noise figure for passive and amplified sensor arrays is presented, along with expressions to optimize the array parameters for high SNRs. We show that practical amplified sensor arrays exhibit low system noise figures that allow much larger arrays (hundreds of sensors) than passive arrays.