Fiber-optic distributed sensor based on hybrid raman and brillouin scattering employing multiwavelength Fabry-Pérot lasers

We propose the use of standard multiwavelength Fabry-Pérot (FP) lasers for distributed strain and temperature measurement in hybrid Raman- and Brillouin-based fiber-optic sensors. The multiple longitudinal modes of FP lasers allow for accurate spontaneous Raman scattering measurement and for simultaneous high-sensitivity coherent detection of the Brillouin frequency shift parameter for all longitudinal modes. Experimental results confirm great performance improvement in simultaneous strain and temperature measurement using a single optical fiber. © 2009 IEEE.