Optical measurement system using multicore optical fiber
An optical-fiber measurement system includes an optical system that generates light and a spatial optical switch that is coupled to the optical system that processes the light generated by the optical system and generates light at a plurality of spatially distributed optical ports. A respective one of a plurality of optical cores at a first end of a multicore optical fiber is positioned to receive light from a respective one of the plurality of spatially distributed optical ports, where the light generated at the plurality of spatially distributed optical ports propagates through the multicore optical fiber. Distal optics is positioned adjacent to a second end of the multicore optical fiber and is positioned to collect light from a sample of interest so that the collected light from the sample of interest is coupled to the plurality of optical cores in the multicore optical fiber.
1. An optical-fiber measurement system comprising:
a) a tunable laser that generates light with a tunable wavelength at an output;
b) an optical coupler having an optical input coupled to the output of the tunable laser, the optical coupler spatially processing the light generated by the tunable laser and providing light at a plurality of optical ports;
c) a multicore optical fiber comprising a plurality of optical cores, a respective one of the plurality of optical cores at a first end of the multicore optical fiber being positioned to receive the light provided at a respective one of the plurality of optical ports of the optical coupler, the light propagating through the multicore optical fiber;
d) distal optics positioned proximate to a second end of the multicore optical fiber so to receive the light propagated through the multicore optical fiber and positioned to collect light from a sample of interest so that the collected light from the sample of interest is coupled to one or more of the plurality of optical cores at the second end of the multicore optical fiber; and
e) a plurality of optical receivers, a respective first input of each of the plurality of optical receivers being coupled to a respective optical core of the multicore optical fiber through the optical coupler and a respective second input of each of the plurality of optical receivers being coupled to at least some of the plurality of optical ports of the optical coupler.
2. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the tunable laser comprises a frequency-swept light source.
3. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the multicore optical fiber comprises a plurality of non-coupled optical cores.
4. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the multicore optical fiber comprises a plurality of coupled optical cores.
5. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the multicore optical fiber comprises a plurality of single mode optical cores.
6. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal optics comprises a distal optical module.
7. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal optics comprises a single-element lens.
8. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal optics comprises a multi-element lens.
9. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal optics comprises a lens selected from the group consisting of complex spherical lenses, aspherical lens structures, lens arrays, and ball lenses.
10. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal optics comprises a plurality of lenses, wherein a respective one of the plurality of lenses is aligned to a respective one of the plurality of optical cores of the multicore optical fiber at the second end.
11. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of optical receivers comprises a photonic integrated circuit.
12. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal optics comprises at least one scanning mirror positioned proximate to the second end of the multicore optical fiber.
13. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 12 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs circumferential scanning.
14. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 12 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs forward scanning.
15. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 12 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs spiral scanning.
16. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 12 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs one dimensional scanning.
17. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 12 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs two dimensional scanning.
18. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 12 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs three dimensional scanning.
19. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of optical receivers comprises a coherent optical receiver.
20. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of optical receivers processes light from a plurality of sample paths to produce a plurality of parallel measurements.
21. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 further comprising at least one optical connector that couples the optical coupler to the multicore optical fiber.
22. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 further comprising at least one optical connector that couples a first and second portion of the multicore optical fiber.
23. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the collected light from the sample is backscattered light from the sample.
24. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the collected light from the sample is reflected light from the sample.