Incoherent optical frequency domain reflectometry based on a Kerr phase-interrogator

We present a novel approach for incoherent optical frequency-domain reflectometry based on a frequency-swept sinusoidal optical signal and a Kerr phase-interrogator. The novel approach eliminates dependence on the laser coherence-length allowing for long-range operation. Long-range detection of reflection points as far as 151 km at a spatial-resolution of 11.2 cm is experimentally demonstrated. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America