Optical fiber access technology is the key to realize a broadband communication for everyone, and the passive optical network (PON) is enabling customers to enjoy high-speed internet access now. As the demand for the broadband access is still growing, a study to find out technologies to realize wider bandwidth for the access system is quite important. At this moment, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) PON is the most promising technology for the future optical fiber access system. Current PON system covers a reach of within 20km from a central office, because the market of the access system is focusing on well-populated area. It is required to extend the reach of the PON system to enhance the applicable area, because there are many regions in the world where are not so highly populated. Therefore, this master thesis is focusing on to enhance the reach of the WDM-PON system. A little more specifically, a single fiber bidirectional 80 km WDM PON system with symmetric up-and-downstream data rate of 10.66Gb/s is reported. In order to enhance the reach of the WDM-PON system, Raman amplifier is utilized. As the Raman amplifier can amplify both directional optical signals simultaneously, it is quite effective to enhance the reach of the WDM-PON system. Even though, there are several effects that cause performance degradations of the system by introducing the Raman amplifier. It is important to clarify such effects and to provide solutions. This thesis discusses these issues also. One factor to degrade the system performance is the Rayleigh backscattering. As the Raman amplifier amplifies the Rayleigh backscattering, it interferes to the signal and causes the crosstalk penalty. At first, an experimental study has been conducted to clarify the significance of the Rayleigh backscattering, and the method to overcome the crosstalk penalty is presented. Then, another experiment to realize 80km WDM PON system with Raman amplifier is conducted, and it demonstrates a feasibility of such system. Finally, this thesis is concluded by a successful demonstration of the WDM-PON system with an enhanced reach.

This thesis includes studies of developing distributed optical fiber vibration sensor based on Rayleigh backscattering with broad frequency response range and high spatial resolution. Distributed vibration sensor based on all-polarization-maintaining configurations of the phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) is developed to achieve high frequency response and spatial resolution. Signal fading and noise induced by polarization change can be mitigated via polarization-maintaining components. Pencil-break event is tested as a vibration source and the layout of the sensing fiber part is designed for real applications. The spatial resolution is 1m and the maximum distance between sensing fiber and vibration event is 18cm. Wavelet denoising method is introduced to improve the performance of the distributed vibration sensor based on phase-sensitive OTDR in standard single-mode fiber. Noise can be reduced more effectively by thresholding the wavelet coefficient. Sub-meter spatial resolution is obtained with a detectable frequency up to 8 kHz. A new distributed vibration sensor based on time-division multiplexing (TDM) scheme is also studied. A special probe waveform including a narrow pules and a quasi-continuous wave can combine the conventional phase-sensitive OTDR system and polarization diversity scheme together in one single-mode fiber without crosstalk. Position and frequency of the vibration can be determined by these two detection systems consecutively in different time slots. Vibration event up to 0.6 MHz is detected with 1m spatial resolution along a 680m single-mode sensing fiber. Continuous wavelet transform (CWT) is investigated to study the non-stationary vibration events measured by our phase OTDR system. The CWT approach can access both frequency and time information of the vibration event simultaneously. Distributed vibration measurements of 500Hz and 500Hz to 1 kHz sweep events over 20 cm fiber length are demonstrated using a single-mode fiber. Optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR) for vibration sensing is proposed for the first time. The local Rayleigh backscatter spectrum shift in time sequence could be used to determine dynamic strain information at a specific position of the vibrated state with respect to that of the non-vibrated state. Measurable frequency range of 0-32 Hz with the spatial resolution of 10 cm is demonstrated along a 17 m fiber.

This thesis includes studies of developing distributed optical fiber vibration sensor based on Rayleigh backscattering with broad frequency response range and high spatial resolution. Distributed vibration sensor based on all-polarization-maintaining configurations of the phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) is developed to achieve high frequency response and spatial resolution. Signal fading and noise induced by polarization change can be mitigated via polarization-maintaining components. Pencil-break event is tested as a vibration source and the layout of the sensing fiber part is designed for real applications. The spatial resolution is 1m and the maximum distance between sensing fiber and vibration event is 18cm. Wavelet denoising method is introduced to improve the performance of the distributed vibration sensor based on phase-sensitive OTDR in standard single-mode fiber. Noise can be reduced more effectively by thresholding the wavelet coefficient. Sub-meter spatial resolution is obtained with a detectable frequency up to 8 kHz. A new distributed vibration sensor based on time-division multiplexing (TDM) scheme is also studied. A special probe waveform including a narrow pules and a quasi-continuous wave can combine the conventional phase-sensitive OTDR system and polarization diversity scheme together in one single-mode fiber without crosstalk. Position and frequency of the vibration can be determined by these two detection systems consecutively in different time slots. Vibration event up to 0.6 MHz is detected with 1m spatial resolution along a 680m single-mode sensing fiber. Continuous wavelet transform (CWT) is investigated to study the non-stationary vibration events measured by our phase OTDR system. The CWT approach can access both frequency and time information of the vibration event simultaneously. Distributed vibration measurements of 500Hz and 500Hz to 1 kHz sweep events over 20 cm fiber length are demonstrated using a single-mode fiber. Optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR) for vibration sensing is proposed for the first time. The local Rayleigh backscatter spectrum shift in time sequence could be used to determine dynamic strain information at a specific position of the vibrated state with respect to that of the non-vibrated state. Measurable frequency range of 0-32 Hz with the spatial resolution of 10 cm is demonstrated along a 17 m fiber.

Esta investigación está conducida a la resolución del problema de encontrar soluciones rentables para el despliegue de redes de fibra hasta el hogar (Fibre to the Home - FTTH). En una red de FTTH, el equipo transmisor-receptor de usuario así como el despliegue de la fibra en la llamada 'última milla' son las barreras principales. Una topología que consiste en hacer llegar una única fibra para dirigirse a cada usuario reduce la cantidad de fibra requerida. Por otro lado, los componentes ópticos pasivos alivian los requisitos de mantenimiento de la red de acceso. El efecto del backscattering de Rayleigh se ha identificado como la interferencia más crítica de este tipo de transmisión, el efecto sobre el funcionamiento del sistema y las investigaciones de posibles soluciones al mencionado problema son centro de estudio de esta tesis. Los experimentos realizados, revelan que, a pesar de la interferencia causada por del effecto Rayleigh no se puede eliminar totalmente, hay diferentes técnicas capaces de atenuar dicho efecto. El uso de los amplificadores ópticos semiconductores para implementar las funciones de transmisión-recepción agrega simplicidad al diseño de red en términos de transparencia de la longitud de onda y gracias a las capacidades de la amplificación de esta familia de dispositivos.Los resultados experimentales presentaron en este trabajo demuestran con éxito la modulación y la detección a 1Gbit/s y 2.5Gbit/s con los dispositivos basados en semiconductores, en enlaces de hasta 30km e incluso de hasta 50km de longitud. Nuevos prototipos son potencialmente capaces de transmitir a 10Gbit/s. Estructuras reflectoras basadas en amplificadores ópticos semiconductores reflectores son los candidatos mas adecuados.Éstos, realizan funciones de transmisión eficientemente y proporcionan la amplificación adecuada. Sin embargo, es necesario el diseño de nuevos diseños capaces de transmitir datos a una velocidad mayor. Una estrategia de comunicación bidireccional mediante una única fibra es la arquitectura más interesante los términos de reducción de costes por usuario (CAPEX). Por estos motivos, la ONU se convierte en un elemento clave en redes de acceso y un área muy interesante de investigación. Para una evolución exitosa de FTTH el diseño de la unidad de red debe ser simple, robusto, flexible y bajo coste para el cliente final. La traducción de los requisitos anteriormente mencionados en especificaciones técnicas establece las pautas siguientes para el diseño del FTTH ONU- Una única fibra por cada usuario para reducir tamaño de la red de acceso- Independencia de la longitud de onda para permitir una operación transparente en redes WDM- Que no haya fuente de luz activa en las dependencias de usuario para prevenir el mantenimiento en el lado del usuario- Con amplificación y así poder aumentar el número de usuarios y alcanzar mayores distanciasDe esta manera, el objetivo principal de esta tesis es la investigación de unidades ópticas de red reflectoras, especialmente las basadas en amplificadores ópticos de semiconductor, así como su funcionamiento en redes de FTTH, basadas en tecnología de acceso WDM-PON. Esto implica fundamentalmente- Identificar arquitecturas y dispositivos propuestos por medio de la investigación del trabajo publicado relacionado y destacar limitaciones y requisitos de los sistemas actuales- evaluar las diversos alternativas para la ONU y para proponer soluciones mejoradas, demostradas con simulaciones y experimentos - investigar limitaciones posibles de los sistemas transmisión bidireccionales y desarrollar soluciones para la mejora de la transmisión- desarrollar descripciones analíticas de las señales implicadas en la transmisión / This research was conducted to deal with the problem of finding cost-effective solutions for Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) network deployment. In the FTTH network, the transceiver at the user premises and the deployment of fibre at the last mile are the major barriers. A single-fibre topology to address each user reduces the amount of fibre required; passive optical components alleviate maintenance requirements in the access network.The Rayleigh backscattering effect is identified as the most critical crosstalk in such transmission, the effect on the system performance and the investigations of possible solutions are presented in this thesis. The studies reveal that despite the Rayleigh backscattering crosstalk can not be totally eliminated, several techniques can mitigate the effect.The use of the semiconductor optical amplifiers to feature transceiver tasks at the user premises adds simplicity to the network design in terms of wavelength transparency and amplification capabilities. We propose implementations with semiconductor amplifiers and test modulation and detection potentials inside the optical network. The experimental results successfully demonstrate modulation and detection at 1Gbit/s and 2.5Gbit/s with semiconductor-based devices, in links of 30km and even though of 50km length; bit rate of 10Gbit/s is feasible with novel prototypes as well. Reflective structures based on reflective semiconductor optical amplifiers are potential candidates, as they perform transmission functions efficiently and provide adequate amplification however, it is necessary the design of further structures capable of transmitting at a higher bit rates.