Centimeter-level spatial resolution over 40 km realized by bandwidth-division phase-noise-compensated OFDR

Abstract

We present a bandwidth-division phase-noise-compensated optical frequency domain reflectometry (PNC-OFDR) technique, which permits a fast sweep of the optical source frequency. This method makes it possible to reduce the influence of environmental perturbation, which is the dominant factor degrading the spatial resolution of frequency-domain reflectometry at a long measurement range after compensation of the optical source phase noise. By using this approach, we realize a sub-cm spatial resolution over 40 km in a normal laboratory environment, and a 5 cm spatial resolution at 39.2 km in a field trial.