Microwave Photonic Temperature Sensing Based on Fourier Domain Mode-Locked OEO and Temperature-to-Time Mapping

We report a novel temperature sensor based on a Fourier domain mode-locked optoelectronic oscillator (FDML OEO) and temperature-to-time mapping. In the proposed scheme, a narrow bandpass electrical filter is inserted into the FDML OEO cavity. The temperature information is mapped to the time interval of the output pulses due to the temperature-sensitive bidirectional scanning property of the FDML OEO. Compared with other OEO-based temperature sensors, the proposed scheme avoids the needs of wideband electrical spectrum analyzers, since the temperature-sensitive output pulses can be interrogated using a low-speed oscilloscope working under sub-Nyquist sampling condition. In the proof-of-concept experiment, a high sensitivity of 8.166 μs/°C and resolution of 0.03°C is achieved, demonstrating a good temperature sensing performance.