Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

In the past decades the research and development in fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based sensors, lasers and instrumentations have led to their rapidly growth in Structure Health Monitoring (SHM) technologies in many key industry sectors. QPS Photronics Inc. in Montreal, Quebec is one of the tech companies that has been developing and commercializing FBG-based sensing technologies. The company has successfully provided and installed many of its sensing systems to engineering structures including large scale electric power generators in Canada and overseas for monitoring the structures' safe operation. To strengthen its global-wide competitiveness the QPS has recently launched several new initiatives focusing on developing a novel p-phase shift FBG with single narrow peak transmission and associated detection system. The new FBG aims to give existing FBG sensor a leap forward in its sensing capability. The same FBG can also be used in narrow linewidth fiber laser for the detection of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as CO2 and CH4 leakage, which are serious environmental challenges facing power, energy and mining industries. The proposed research is to identify, address and tackle the issues related to the drawbacks of the current FBG sensors and to find viable technical approaches to improve the signal quality, measurement sensitivity and accuracy. The work will also aim for the technology adaption and product commercialization of QPS. The main methodology proposed is based on the novel approaches to narrow the bandwidth of the FBG peaks down to pico-meter level. A few core designs and processes will be studied, developed and implemented including those of fabricating special designed FBGs, accurately identifying the pm-bandwidth peak and locking the wavelength of a laser diode to the peak in the detection system etc. The outcomes of the proposed research will enable QPS to maintain its current leading position, strengthen its competitiveness and develop new market. Five High Quality Personals (HQP) will be trained through this collaborative research, studying the relevant photonics and mechanic issues as well as all technical issues of the proposed tasks.*