Abstract

Cost has thus far been a major barrier to the realization of practical interferometric fiber sensor systems. Multiplexing techniques which allow the operation of several sensors with a single laser and photodetector can possibly alleviate this problem. Several sensor multiplexing demonstrations using the Mach-Zehnder configuration have recently been reported.^1-3 However, the directional couplers needed for these interferometers are still somewhat expensive and they constitute undesirable mechanical discontinuities in a sensor cable.

© 1988 Optical Society of America