Coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) using a fiber grating external cavity laser

Author

Huang, Kao-Yang ; Carter, Gary M.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Maryland Univ., Baltimore, MD, USA

Volume

6

Issue

12

fYear

1994

Firstpage

1466

Lastpage

1468

Abstract

An optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system containing a narrow linewidth fiber grating external cavity laser is demonstrated to have 62-dB of sensitivity when detecting Fresnel backreflection and 2 m of resolution at a 115 m range in optical fiber. With this system we were able to detect Rayleigh backscattering in optical fiber with 20-dB signal-to-noise ratio. The phase noise limitation on the distance range for the OFDR was investigated, and the measured signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) data followed the theoretical simulation over the ranges measured. This technique has potential to be applied to the OFDR at 1550 mm with very high dynamic range by using an erbium doped fiber laser.<>

Keywords

Rayleigh scattering; diffraction gratings; fibre lasers; frequency-domain analysis; optical fibre testing; optical resolving power; reflectometry; sensitivity; 1550 nm; Fresnel backreflection; OFDR; Rayleigh backscattering; coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry; distance range; erbium doped fiber laser; fiber grating external cavity laser; narrow linewidth fiber grating external cavity laser; optical fiber; phase noise limitation; resolution; sensitivity; signal-to-noise ratio; theoretical simulation; very high dynamic range; Erbium-doped fiber lasers; Fiber gratings; Frequency domain analysis; Laser noise; Noise measurement; Optical fibers; Optical sensors; Phase measurement; Reflectometry; Signal to noise ratio;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.392209

Filename

392209