Statistics of Rayleigh Backscatter From a Single-Mode Fiber

Abstract

This paper contains a detailed analysis of the statistical properties of the Rayleigh backscatter signal from a single-mode optical fiber. Derivations of the first- and second-order statistics, autocorrelation function, and power spectral density of the backscatter wave are given. The probability density functions of the amplitude and intensity of the backscatter signal are also calculated.