Abstract

This paper describes an alternative form of a time-domain reflectometer for the detection of discontinuities in single-mode optical fiber cables. Conventional techniques¹ rely on measurement of the transmit time of an optical pulse that is launched into the fiber and subsequently scattered back from the discontinuity. The distance resolution in this type of system is determined by the magnitude of the shortest optical pulse that can be produced so that for a pulse of 1-nsec duration, the resolution is of the order of 20 cm.

© 1985 Optical Society of America