An investigation into using optical amplifiers for enhancing Brillouin based optical time domain reflectometry

Distributed fibre sensors have been successfully demonstrated and used in various industries for performing continuous measurements of the physical parameters such as temperature and strain. However, the measurement range and the performance of such sensors are limited by the intrinsic attenuation of the signal in the sensing fibre. This thesis investigates using optical amplification within the sensing fibre to enhance the range and the performance of the distributed Brillouin based sensors. To extend the range beyond this, remote amplification was also investigated using CW Raman amplification in which a Raman pump is injected at the midpoint of a 100km sensing fibre and a remotely pumped Erbium doped fibre amplifier is also situated at the midpoint. The performance achieved using each technique was measured and the relative advantages of each configuration were identified and discussed.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Ph.D.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Southampton

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Cho, Yuh Tat