Modeling and experimental research of the polarization diversity scheme in a coherent optical reflectometer

Ushanov S.A., Plotnikov, M.Y., Kunichkin D.P., Volkov, M.V.

For Russian citation (Opticheskii Zhurnal):

Ушанов С.А., Плотников М.Ю., Куничкин Д.П., Волков А.В. Применение схемы с поляризационным разнесением в когерентной рефлектометрии // Оптический журнал. 2025. Т. 92. № 8. С. 40–50. http://doi.org/10.17586/1023-5086-2025-92-08-40-50

Ushanov S.A., Plotnikov M.Y., Kunichkin D.P., Volkov A.V. Application of the polarization diversity scheme in coherent reflectometry [in Russian] // Opticheskii Zhurnal. 2025. V. 92. № 8. P. 40–50. http://doi.org/10.17586/1023-5086-2025-92-08-40-50

For citation (Journal of Optical Technology):

Abstract:

The subject of the study. The paper presents the results of a mathematical and experimental study of optical circuits for eliminating the effect of polarization fading in a coherent optical reflectometer. The purpose of the study. The aim of the work was to increase the range, reduce measurement errors and improve stability of the coherent reflectometer to the effect of polarization fading that occur during interference of the local oscillator signal and Rayleigh scattering by using various coherence receiving schemes. Method. For the theoretical study of various optical circuits of the receiving cascade of a coherent reflectometer designed to eliminate the effect of polarization fading, a mathematical model has been developed that makes it possible to estimate the average level of the optical signal detected by the photodetector and its standard deviation at the random polarization state of the registered Rayleigh scattering. An experimental verification of the selected circuit was also performed on a valid sample of the device. The main results. The results of mathematical modeling have shown that the scheme with polarization diversity based on two polarization beam splitters and balanced photodetectors has the greatest effectiveness in suppressing the effect of polarization fading. Experimental verification of the selected scheme in a valid sample of a coherent reflectometer has shown that the use of a polarizing diversity scheme is effective in eliminating the effect of polarization fading and reducing the spread of values of recorded reflectograms. Practical significance. The results obtained made it possible to theoretically justify the choice of an optical scheme for use in a coherent optical reflectometer. The results of an experimental study of the chosen scheme demonstrated its effectiveness in eliminating the effect of polarization fading.

Keywords:

coherent reflectometer, optical reflectometry, interferometric measurements, polarization fading

Acknowledgements:

the research was carried out within the state assignment of Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Project № FSER-2024-0006)

OCIS codes: 060.0060, 230.0230, 250.0250

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