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Detecting a disturbance in the phase of light propagating in an optical waveguide

  • US 8,264,676 B2
  • Filed: 11/08/2007
  • Issued: 09/11/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting a disturbance in the phase of light propagating in an optical waveguide, the apparatus comprising:

  • a light source for sending partially coherent successive light pulses along the waveguide;

    a photodetector for generating signals representing the time distributed speckle pattern intensity of light backscattered in the waveguide as respective partially coherent light pulses travel along the waveguide; and

    a processor for comparing the signals to identify differences in the intensity of light backscattered in the waveguide as the partially coherent respective light pulses travel along the waveguide,wherein the photodetector detects the backscattered light within a spectral width of the order of around 0.1 GHz to 100 GHz.

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