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Photon counting OTDR : advantages and limitations

Contributors

Eraerds, Patrick; Legre, Matthieu; Zhang, Jun; Zbinden, Hugo; Gisin, Nicolas

Published in

Journal of lightwave technology, vol. 28, no. 6, p. 952-964

Publication date

2010

Abstract

In this paper, we provide a detailed insight into photon-counting optical time-domain reflectometer (ν-OTDR) operation, ranging from Geiger-mode operation of avalanche photodiodes (APD), analysis of different APD bias schemes, to the discussion of OTDR perspectives. Our results demonstrate that an InGaAs/InP APD-based ν-OTDR has the potential of outperforming the dynamic range of a conventional state-of-the-art OTDR by 10 dB, as well as the two-point resolution by a factor of 20. Considering the trace acquisition speed of ν-OTDRs, we find that a combination of rapid gating for high photon flux and free running mode for low photon flux is the most efficient solution. Concerning dead zones, our results are less promising. Without additional measures, e.g., an optical shutter, the photon counting approach is not competitive.

UNIGE affiliation entities

Citation (ISO format)

ERAERDS, Patrick et al. Photon counting OTDR : advantages and limitations. In: Journal of lightwave technology, 2010, vol. 28, n° 6, p. 952–964. doi: 10.1109/JLT.2009.2039635

Main files (1)

Article (Accepted version)

Identifiers

Additional URL for this publication

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=5371875&tag=1

Journal ISSN

0733-8724
729views
917downloads

Technical informations

Creation

23/08/2010 11:47:00

First validation

23/08/2010 11:47:00

Update

14/03/2023 16:06:15

Status update

14/03/2023 16:06:15

Last indexation

29/10/2024 17:06:54
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