Abstract
In this paper coherent optical frequency domain
reflectometry is described and the challenges that are linked to
using this interrogation method for optical fibre communication
or sensor applications. When using a tunable laser source for
interrogation methods such as the coherent optical frequency
domain reflectometry technique, the laser wavelength scanning is
not completely linear and therefore a spread in the energy occurs.
With a 1% error in the wavelength scan of the tunable laser
source, the range of the energy spread is over a frequency span of
3257 Hz, ranging from 23401 Hz to 26658 Hz with a maximum
amplitude of 0.0113. After the energy spread recovery algorithm
has been applied, the energy has a magnitude of 0.9679 situated
at 25028 Hz. By recovering the energy that is spread through
different frequencies, results become more accurate when, for
example, tracking the frequency change of an interferometer.