A Fading Suppression Method for Φ-OTDR Systems Based on Multi-Domain Multiplexing

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (Φ-OTDR) has been widely applied in various fields. However, due to fading noise, false alarms often occur; this limits its engineering applications. In this paper, a fading suppression method for Φ-OTDR systems based on multi-domain multiplexing (MDM) is proposed. The principles and limitations of existing suppression methods such as spatial-domain multiplexing (SDM), polarization-domain multiplexing (PDM), and frequency-domain multiplexing (FDM) are analyzed. The principle of MDM is explained in detail, and an experimental system is established to test the fading noise suppression capabilities of different parameter combinations of the PDM, FDM, and SDM methods. Experimental results show that it is difficult to comprehensively suppress fading noise with single-domain multiplexing. Through optimizations of different parameter combinations, MDM can comprehensively suppress fading noise by appropriately selecting the number of FDM frequencies, the spatial weighting intervals, and using PDM, thus obtaining the optimal anti-fading solution between performance and hardware complexity. Through MDM, the fade-free measurement is achieved, providing a promising technical solution for the practical application of the Φ-OTDR technology.

Source: Sensors

DOI: 10.3390/s25082629

Authors: Shuai Tong, Shaoxiong Tang, Yifan Lu, Nuo Yuan, Chi Zhang, Huanhuan Liu, Dao Zhang, Ningmu Zou, Xuping Zhang, Yixin Zhang

Institutions: Nanjing University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Fiber Optic Sensors

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, Shenzhen Research Foundation, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

OpenAlex ID: W4409634024