Title :
Millimeter-resolution optical time-domain reflectometry using a four-wave mixing sampling gate
Author :
Schlager, J.B. ; Jinno, M. ; Franzen, D.L.
Author_Institution :
Nat. Inst. of Stand. & Technol., Boulder, CO, USA
Abstract :
We report an optical time-domain reflectometer that employs an ultrafast optical switch based on nondegenerate four-wave mixing in a semiconductor laser amplifier. Two-point spatial resolution on the order of 1 mm over 2 m is demonstrated; Fresnel reflections with optical return losses greater than 53 dB are detected. Submillimeter-resolution optical time-domain reflectometry over a 100-m range should be possible with modifications to the pulse sources.<>
Keywords :
high-speed optical techniques; multiwave mixing; optical losses; optical resolving power; optical switches; optical time-domain reflectometry; 1 mm; 100 m; 2 m; 53 dB; Fresnel reflections; four-wave mixing sampling gate; millimeter-resolution; nondegenerate four-wave mixing; optical return losses; optical time-domain reflectometer; pulse sources; semiconductor laser amplifier; submillimeter-resolution; two-point spatial resolution; ultrafast optical switch; Four-wave mixing; Nonlinear optics; Optical mixing; Optical switches; Pulse amplifiers; Reflectometry; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Stimulated emission; Time domain analysis; Ultrafast optics;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
