Ultra-high sensitivity transducer with chirped bragg grating relector

A method of measuring a physical parameter including the steps of:

• applying at least a portion of an energy pulse having a wavelength to an optical fiber including a fiber Bragg grating wherein the fiber Bragg grating is a chirped fiber Bragg grating;
• reflecting the wavelength from the fiber Bragg grating;
• applying strain to the fiber Bragg grating in response to the physical parameter;
• and
• determining propagation delay of the energy pulse in the optical fiber including a portion of the fiber Bragg grating effectively reflecting the wavelength of the energy pulse, and wherein the optical fiber includes a second chirped fiber Bragg grating, and wherein said step of determining a propagation delay includes the step of:
• detecting at least one of a frequency and a decay rate of reflections of the energy pulse between the chirped fiber Bragg grating and the second chirped fiber Bragg grating.

A transducer responsive to changes of a physical parameter, said transducer including:

• an optical fiber including a chirped fiber Bragg grating;
• means for applying an elastic strain to a portion of said optical fiber in response to said changes of said physical parameter;
• means for supplying a pulse of energy having a wavelength which can be reflected by said chirped fiber Bragg grating to said optical fiber;
• means for detecting a propagation delay of said energy pulse through said optical fiber, said optical fiber including at least an effectively reflecting portion of said chirped fiber Bragg grating;
• an optical path including a second optical fiber including a second chirped fiber Bragg grating;
• and
• a coupler/splitter means for receiving said energy pulse and directing said pulse into at least said optical fiber and said optical path;
• wherein a chirp of said chirped fiber Bragg grating and a chirp of said second chirped fiber Bragg grating are similarly oriented.

A transducer responsive to changes of a physical parameter, said transducer including:

• an optical fiber including a chirped fiber Bragg grating, and a second chirped fiber Bragg grating, and wherein a chirp of said chirped fiber Bragg grating and a chirp of said second chirped fiber Bragg grating are oppositely oriented, said chirped fiber Bragg grating adapted to receive and reflect a pulse of energy having a wavelength which can be reflected by said chirped fiber Bragg grating to said optical fiber;
• means for applying an elastic strain to a portion of said optical fiber in response to said changes of said physical parameter;
• and
• means for detecting a propagation delay of said energy pulse through said optical fiber, said optical fiber including at least an effectively reflecting portion of said chirped fiber Bragg grating, and wherein said means for detecting a propagation delay includes means for detecting at least one of a frequency and a decay rate of reflections between said chirped fiber Bragg grating and said second chirped fiber Bragg grating in said optical fiber.