Ultra-long phase-sensitive OTDR with hybrid distributed amplification

A phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (Phi-OTDR) with 175 km sensing range and 25 m spatial resolution is demonstrated, using the combination of co-pumping second-order Raman amplification based on random fiber lasing, counter-pumping first-order Raman amplification, and counter-pumping Brillouin amplification. With elaborate arrangements, each pumping scheme is responsible for the signal amplification in one particular segment of all three. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that distributed vibration sensing is realized over such a long distance without inserting repeaters. The novel hybrid amplification scheme in this work can also be incorporated in other fiber-optic sensing systems for extension of sensing distance. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America