Iribas Pardo, HaritzUrricelqui Polvorinos, JavierSagüés García, MikelLoayssa Lara, Alayn2016-11-232016-11-232015Haritz Iribas ; Javier Urricelqui ; Mikel Sagues and Alayn Loayssa "Enhanced tolerance to pulse extinction ratio in Brillouin optical time domain analysis sensors by dithering of the optical source", Proc. SPIE 9634, 24th International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors, 96344Z (September 28, 2015); doi:10.1117/12.21952640277-786X (Print)1996-756X (Electronic)10.1117/12.2195264https://academica-e.unavarra.es/handle/2454/22746We demonstrate the relaxation of the stringent requirements placed on the pulse extinction ratio in long-range Brillouin optical time-domain analysis sensors (BOTDA) by modulating the wavelength of the laser source that is used to generate both pump and probe waves. This modulation makes the counter-propagating pulse pedestal and probe waves to become correlated only at certain locations in the fiber, thus reducing the gain experienced by the probe wave, which is precisely the process that limits the performance in long-range BOTDAs. Proof-of-concept experimental results in a 20-km sensing link demonstrate a 6-dB reduction of the required modulator extinction ratio.application/pdfengCopyright 2015 Society of Photo Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic electronic or print reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.Brillouin distributed sensorsBrillouin optical time domain analysisExtinction ratioinfo:eu-repo/semantics/conferenceObjectinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess