Polarization-diversity-detection-based wavelength-scanning coherent-optical-time-domain reflectometer and its application for bus monitoring

Although wavelength scanning coherent optical time-domain reflectometry (WS-COTDR) system is immune to fading effect, it suffers from occasional and localized large errors caused by the false peak in the correlation spectrum due to the large signal generated in the random interference of the backscattered light. Polarization diversity detection is applied to a standard WS-COTDR system to suppress large measurement errors. In this way, the orthogonally polarized components of backscattered light can be obtained and processed separately. Due to the birefringence of the sensing fiber, the components experience different interference processes, so the average of their correlation spectrum can suppress the false peaks and finally reduce the occurrence of larger errors. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated in laboratory for monitoring of sinusoidal vibrations and in field for tracking the bus movement via a dark fiber.