Distributed optical fiber sensor based on modulated dual-pulse probe signal

A distributed fiber sensor based on Rayleigh scattering is described which converts vibration-induced optical phase changes into optical intensity variations by using modulated dual-pulses injected into sensing fiber. Phase generated carrier algorithm is used to permit arctangent operation to demodulate the phase information along the sensing fiber. The demonstrated sensor is capable of probing dynamic acoustic or vibration disturbances over 10km of sensing length with spatial resolution of 6m and large signal to noise ratio. The background noise of our system is estimated about 1×10-3 rad/√Hz.