High sampling rate multi-pulse phase-sensitive OTDR employing frequency division multiplexing

A novel high sampling rate multi-pulse phase-sensitive OTDR (Φ-OTDR) employing frequency division multiplexing (FDM) is proposed to increase the sampling rate of the long distance sensor system. Compared with the conventional Φ- OTDR, the new system owns much higher detection bandwidth as more probe pulses are allowed simultaneously traveling in the sensing fiber. The feasibility of the technique is experimentally verified. By multiplexing four different frequencies, we realize a experimental system with 20kHz vibration detection bandwidth over 10km sensing range.