Long Range and cm-Level Spatial Resolution Measurement Using Coherent Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry With SSB-SC Modulator and Narrow Linewidth Fiber Laser

Abstract

<para xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> This paper describes coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry (C-OFDR) with cm-level spatial resolution over 5 km. We propose the use of a single sideband with a suppressed carrier (SSB-SC) modulator and a narrow linewidth fiber laser as a tunable light source for C-OFDR. The advantage of using SSB-SC modulation is clarified theoretically by comparison with a double sideband with suppressed carrier modulation. We achieved cm-level spatial resolution over a 5-km measurement range and high sensitivity with a noise level 30 dB lower than the Rayleigh backscattering level. </para>