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.