October 6, 2006, Tucson, AZ--NP Photonics, designer and manufacturer of narrow-linewidth single-frequency lasers, announced that it has begun to deliver multi-laser systems for field trials in the oil field and security markets. Upon successful completion of these trials, this technology will be part of multimillion-dollar installations.
The multi-laser system is based on an active stabilization technique recently developed by NP Photonics for DWDM fiber optic sensing systems that multiplex the information from a number of spectral channels. This method significantly reduces frequency noise and virtually eliminates sensitivity to vibration and low-frequency acoustics. It is the first time that such actively stabilized lasers are being used in real field applications.
Optical sensing is critically important in oil & gas, homeland security, and industrial markets where the measurement of distance, temperature, and/or pressure is required for a broad range of applications. These applications include finding and monitoring of oil fields in order to increase their productivity, opto-acoustic sensing in submarine towed arrays, monitoring and securing pipelines and power lines as well as border and perimeter protection. Common to these applications is the need for high sensitivity and resolution, with real-time monitoring over long distances. To be suitable for these applications, the lasers need to be insensitive to vibration and have the lowest possible phase noise. NP's recently developed technology achieves both of these objectives.
NP Photonics uses glass and fiber technology to design, produce, and deliver advanced optical light sources for sensing, medical, and R & D markets. The company has developed a broad family of products including narrow-linewidth fiber lasers, ASE sources, fiber amplifiers, and high-power light sources.
For more information, visit www.npphotonics.com.