AllianStream Photonics and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Showcase Two Major DAS Breakthroughs at OFC 2026

The Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC), widely recognized as the premier global event in optical communications, represents the highest level of innovation and future trends in optical networking and related technologies.

At OFC 2026, Ningbo AllianStream Photonics Technology Co., Ltd. (AllianStream Photonics), in collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), presented two cutting-edge research achievements in Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). Both papers were accepted by OFC, with one receiving the distinction of a Top-Scored Paper, highlighting the strong innovation capabilities of the joint research team in advanced fiber-optic sensing technologies.

In addition, Prof. Zuyuan He, Chief Scientist of AllianStream Photonics and Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, was invited to deliver a workshop presentation entitled “Advances of Optical Fiber Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS)”, where he shared the latest developments and representative application cases of DAS technology.

Achievement 1
Hybrid Photonic Integrated DAS Interrogator Recognized as an OFC 2026 Top-Scored Paper

Paper Title:
Hybrid Photonic Integrated Interrogator for Distributed Acoustic Sensing

This work proposes a hybrid photonic integration architecture combining an InP external-cavity laser and an SOI photonic integrated chip, resulting in the development of an ultra-compact, highly integrated DAS interrogator.

Performance demonstrated over a 10-km sensing fiber includes:

• Strain Resolution: 73.27 pε/√Hz
• Spatial Resolution: ~4 m
• Module Size: 40 mm × 40 mm × 10 mm

This breakthrough provides a practical path toward portable DAS, pluggable DAS, and board-level DAS implementations, accelerating the evolution of DAS systems from traditional rack-mounted platforms toward compact, integrated, and embedded solutions.

Key Highlights

By integrating a high-performance optical source with a high-density photonic integrated chip, the proposed architecture achieves significant improvements in both performance and miniaturization, representing an important step toward lightweight and practical DAS deployment.

Achievement 2
CPC-FM-DAS Enables Fading Suppression and Enhanced SNR

Paper Title:
Coded-Pulse-Compression Frequency-Multiplexed DAS for Fading Suppression and SNR Enhancement

This research introduces Coded Pulse Compression (CPC) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) techniques into DAS systems and demonstrates the following performance over a 10-km sensing fiber:

• Interference Fading: Reduced from ±20 dB to ±5 dB
• Strain Resolution (99% Upper Confidence Limit): Improved from 84.0 pε/√Hz to 29.8 pε/√Hz
• No Sacrifice in Spatial Resolution

The proposed approach effectively overcomes the long-standing trade-off between spatial resolution and frequency-diversity-based fading suppression found in conventional chirped pulse compression DAS systems.

Furthermore, the study demonstrates the feasibility of using communication payloads (frame headers) as DAS probing signals, opening a new pathway toward Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) systems.

Key Highlights

Through the joint design of coded pulse compression and frequency multiplexing, the system achieves substantial SNR enhancement while significantly suppressing interference fading, greatly improving DAS stability and reliability. The work also validates the use of communication payloads as sensing signals for future ISAC applications.

Strengthening Industry-Academia Collaboration for the Future of ISAC

These achievements mark another important milestone in the long-term collaboration between AllianStream Photonics and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

By combining SJTU’s research excellence in fiber-optic sensing, photonic integration, and signal processing with AllianStream Photonics’ strengths in engineering implementation and industrialization, the two partners continue to advance key technologies including highly integrated DAS systems, photonic integrated chips, and ISAC solutions.

Together, they are committed to delivering globally competitive sensing technologies for applications such as oil and gas developing monitoring, smart grids, ocean observation, security surveillance, and integrated sensing and communication networks.

Through continuous innovation in photonic integration and fiber-optic sensing, AllianStream Photonics remains dedicated to advancing next-generation sensing technologies and driving the future of intelligent infrastructure worldwide.