Source phase-induced noise in unbalanced time domain multiplexed sensor networks

The dynamic range of many optical signal processing and sensing devices incorporating two-beam interferometers can be limited by random phase fluctuations of the optical source emission field. We report the theoretical expressions of the autocovariance function of the output intensity and the noise power spectral density due to the source phase-induced noise in unbalanced time domain multiplexed (TDM) sensor networks. Application of the results in the performance evaluation of all-fiber TDM sensor networks illustrating the important trade-offs between high duty cycle, sensitivity, and noise power are also presented.<
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