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We demonstrate a low-loss, long-range, single-ended distributed optical fiber sensor to measure both temperature and strain simultaneously and unambiguously. By using the Landau¿Placzek ratio and cascaded Mach¿Zehnder interferometric filters, we measure both the intensity and the frequency changes in the Brillouin backscattered signal. Strain and temperature measurements can then be independently resolved. A temperature resolution of 4 degrees C, a strain resolution of 290 muepsilon, and a spatial resolution of 10 m have been achieved for a sensing length of 15 km.

We describe both theoretical and experimental results obtained in an investigation of a new technique for increasing the dynamic range of 1.65-microm optical time domain-reflectometry (OTDR) systems. The technique utilizes delayed Raman amplification of a 1.65-microm signal pulse by a 1.53-microm pump pulse. Amplification occurs when the two pulses overlap, and this position is determined by the initial delay between the pulses and the fiber dispersion. An increase in dynamic range of 17.5 dB has been observed, and the OTDR backscattered Rayleigh signal was detected up to 100 km. No significant noise penalty is introduced as a result of the directionality of the Raman gain.