Interferometric optical fiber measurement system with multicore optical fiber
An optical-fiber measurement system includes an optical transceiver comprising an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. A multi-core optical fiber has a proximal end with a first optical core coupled to the transceiver and a second optical core coupled to the transceiver, and a distal end with the first optical core coupled to a sample path that is configured to convey light collected from a sample positioned external to the multi-core optical fiber and the second optical core coupled to a reference path such that the sample path and the reference path experience mostly a same disturbance along the multi-core optical fiber. The optical receiver is configured to interferometrically detect light from the sample path and light from the reference path.
1. An optical-fiber measurement system comprising:
a) an optical transceiver comprising an optical transmitter and an optical receiver; and
b) a multi-core optical fiber having a proximal end with a first optical core coupled to the transceiver and a second optical core coupled to the transceiver, and a distal end with the first optical core coupled to a sample path configured to convey light collected from a sample positioned external to the multi-core optical fiber and the second optical core coupled to a reference path such that the sample path and the reference path experience mostly a same disturbance along the multi-core optical fiber, wherein the optical receiver is configured to interferometrically detect light from the sample path and light from the reference path.
2. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 further comprising at least one optical connector that couples the transceiver to the first and second core of the multi-core optical fiber.
3. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 further comprising at least one optical connector that couples a first and second portion of the multi core optical fiber.
4. The remote optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the multi-core optical fiber is coupled to a single-element lens.
5. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the multi-core optical fiber is coupled to a multi-element lens.
6. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the multi-core optical fiber is coupled to a lens selected from the group consisting of complex spherical lenses, aspherical lens structures, lens arrays, and ball lenses.
7. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the multi-core optical fiber is coupled to a photonic integrated circuit.
8. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the multi-core optical fiber is coupled to at least one scanning mirror.
9. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 8 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs circumferential scanning.
10. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 8 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs forward scanning.
11. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 8 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs spiral scanning.
12. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 8 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs one dimensional scanning.
13. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 8 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs two dimensional scanning.
14. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 8 wherein the at least one scanning mirror performs three dimensional scanning.
15. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the first and second optical cores of multicore optical fiber are non-optically coupled single mode fibers.
16. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the multi-core optical fiber comprises a twin core optical fiber.
17. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver comprises a photonic integrated circuit.
18. The optical-fiber measurement system of claim 1 wherein the multi-core optical fiber is formed of single mode cores.