Interrogation of optical fiber based on the fusion of OFDR and TRA techniques

Abstract

This paper proposes merging two interrogation techniques, namely, Incoherent Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry and Transmission-Reflection Analysis. The objective is improving the accuracy for detection and localization of the loss-inducing perturbation along the fiber. The mathematical formulation of our technique was analyzed in terms of the relationship between the continuous-wave and the frequency-modulated light source. Simulations validated the model, which presented increased accuracy in the localization of the loss-induced perturbation, even with the addition of noise in the measurements.