Fault location in optical fibers using optical frequency domain reflectometry

This paper describes the experimental and analytical investigations performed on another backscattering technique named "Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry" (OFDR). In this approach the temporal signatures of graded-index multimode fibers are obtained as the inverse Fourier transform of the OFDR data. In the employed OFDR system the entire process is automated, and the modulation frequency is changed stepwise to obtain an exact inverse Fourier transform. The effects of starting frequency, frequency increment, and highest modulation frequency on OFDR temporal response are considered. The experimental results are in good agreement with those obtained by computer simulations. Also, a synchronous detection type of filtering process is suggested for signal-to-noise ratio improvement in OFDR technique.