Fiber cavity ring-down using an optical time-domain reflectometer

Abstract

This work presented a demonstration of the potential for a fiber based cavity ring-down (CRD) using an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR). The OTDR was used to send the impulses down into about 20 km of a standard single optical fiber, at the end of which the fiber cavity ring-down was placed. The OTDR measured no appreciable losses, so other CRDs multiplexed could be spliced in parallel along the same optical fiber. To demonstrate the behavior and sensitivity of the proposed configuration, a displacement sensor based on a fiber taper with a diameter of 50 µm was placed inside the fiber loop, and the induced losses were measured on the CRD signal — a sensitivity of 11.8 ± 0.5 µs/mm was achieved. The dynamic range of the sensing head used in this configuration was about 2 mm. Finally, this work was also compared with different works published in the literature. © 2014, The Author(s).