Raman-based distributed temperature sensor with simplex coding and link optimization

In this letter, a coded, Raman-based distributed temperature sensor system using 255-bit Simplex coded optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) and optimized sensing link composed of cascaded fibers with different Raman coefficients, is proposed. This system is compared to a system with an uncoded OTDR on standard single-mode fiber, demonstrating significant enhancement in the interrogation distance (19.5 km from coding gain, and 9.6 km from link optimization). Total sensing range of 37 km at 17-m/3-K spatial/temperature resolution were achieved, while employing conventional low power (80 mW) laser diodes. © 2006 IEEE.