Polarimetric distributed feedback fiber laser sensor for simultaneous strain and temperature measurements

We report the application of a dual polarization distributed feedback (DFB) fiber laser as a strain and temperature sensor. By measurement of the absolute wavelength of one polarization as well as the polarization beat frequency, strain and temperature were determined simultaneously. The sensor has an accuracy of +3 microepsilon and +/-0.04 degrees C. Self-heating of the DFB fiber laser as a function of pump power was measured with this sensor.