Open AccessReal time monitoring of a fiber fuse using an optical time-domain reflectometer
Author(s) -
Kazi S. Abedin,
Masataka Nakazawa
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.021315
Subject(s) - optical time domain reflectometer , fuse (electrical) , optics , reflectometry , time domain , optical fiber , materials science , reflection (computer programming) , fiber , fiber optic sensor , polarization maintaining optical fiber , physics , computer science , quantum mechanics , composite material , computer vision , programming language
We propose and experimentally demonstrate monitoring of a fiber fuse in real time using an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR). When a fuse starts, a weak reflection of light occurs from the leading edge of the fuse where plasma and voids are being formed in the core. In this work, we examined the possibility of monitoring a fiber fuse from a remote location using an OTDR. We demonstrate a method that allows us detect a fuse progressing at remote locations (over kilometers away). It was found to be effective even in the presence of strong spurious backscattering, such as spontaneous Raman scattering due to a strong continuous wave pump. Moreover, from the progress of the reflection edge monitored by the OTDR, the fuse velocity could be readily determined.