Multi-Channel Interferometric Demodulator

If All-Optical Underwater Sensing Arrays are to be viable for NAVY surveillance applications, it is crucial that the highest possible performance be obtained at the lowest possible cost. Comparatively, the same is true for the commercial viability of any type of all-fiber sensing array. To date, this is not the case. Our nations telecommunications development effort in fiber optic components and networks has gone a long way to bring down costs associated with the optical array elements, but relatively no efforts have been made (or dollars expended) to develop the array interrogation and interferometric demodulation strategies. Our SBIR R&D focus is in this area utilizing a unique process developed by Optiphase, Inc.. We propose to develop a Multi-Channel Interferometric Demodulation (MCID) approach which is applicable for multi-channel sensor arrays employed by the NAVY, but equally applicable for commercial sensing applications. This development will show significant performance enhancements over existing technology and is expected to reduce production prices by a factor of 10. In Phase 1, we will optimize and verify the MCID design approach. In Phase II we will develop a 256 channel MCID for use in a Navy underwater sensing array.