Model Analysis of Underwater Acoustic Sensing with Hollow-Core Photonic Bandgap Fiber

Abstract

Recently, using hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber (HC-PBF) for underwater acoustic sensing has been tested experimentally. Besides its unique characteristics and advantages over conventional single mode fiber (SMF), it provides higher responsivity to acoustic pressure. A robust deep water ray tracing model for multipath acoustic signals propagation and the elastic model of HC-PBF are both required to study the effects of underwater enviroment on the propagating acoustic signal for sensing with HC-PBF hydrophones. The combination of the two models allows studying the frequency response, sensitivity, detection range, and maximum operating depth of the HC-PBF hydrophones. The models analysis and simulations show the considerations that must be taken into account for the design and field operation of the HC-PBF hydrophones. In this paper, a complete package to study, design, optimize, and analyze the simulation results of the interferometric HC-PBF hydrophones is proposed.