High sensitivity and submillimeter resolution optical time-domain reflectometry based on low-coherence interference

Author

Takada, Kazumasa ; Himeno, Akira ; Yukimatsu, Ken-ichi

Author_Institution

NTT Corp., Tokyo, Japan

Volume

10

Issue

12

fYear

1992

fDate

12/1/1992 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1998

Lastpage

2005

Abstract

Characteristics of the low-coherence optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) are presented, and optical waveguide diagnosis using the OTDR is demonstrated. Ultrahigh sensitivity in the shot noise limited operation is discussed, and jagged-shaped Rayleigh-backscatter signals are predicted and observed experimentally. Signal smoothing by widening the resolution from 14 to 400 μm can drastically reduce the jagging. In the experiment, polarization-sensitive and insensitive OTDRs using a fiber-coiled piezoelectric phase modulator are proposed. Measurements of beat length and bending loss, quality characterization of low-loss waveguides by polarization-sensitive OTDR, and cancellations of polarization fading in discrete backreflection and polarization jagging in Rayleigh backscattering by polarization-insensitive OTDR are successfully demonstrated

Keywords

Rayleigh scattering; backscatter; light coherence; light polarisation; optical fibre testing; optical time-domain reflectometry; random noise; OTDR; PANDA fiber; beat length; bending loss; discrete backreflection; fiber-coiled piezoelectric phase modulator; high sensitivity; jagged-shaped Rayleigh-backscatter signals; low-coherence interference; low-loss waveguides; optical time-domain reflectometry; optical waveguide diagnosis; polarization fading; polarization jagging; polarization-insensitive OTDR; polarization-sensitive OTDR; quality characterization; resolution; shot noise limited operation; signal smoothing; submillimeter resolution; Length measurement; Optical fiber polarization; Optical noise; Optical sensors; Optical waveguides; Phase modulation; Piezoelectric polarization; Signal resolution; Smoothing methods; Time domain analysis;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.202806

Filename

202806