Patent attributes
A measurement range is extended while maintaining the spatial resolution high by completely separating the increment of a probe light from noises. Modulations are performed on both probe light and pump light to differentiate both lights. Using the modulations, only the change in the probe light necessary for measuring the characteristic of a measurement-target optical fiber FUT can be separated. Accordingly, unlike the conventional technology, an optical wavelength filter becomes unnecessary. Further, in a case where an amplitude Δf of the frequency modulation of a light source 1 is made wide to some extent to make the measurement range wide while maintaining a spatial resolution Δz high, the amplitude Δf does not affect to detection of the change in the probe light. Therefore, the increment of the probe light can be completely separated from noises, thereby extending the measurement range while maintaining the spatial resolution Δz high.
