One Raman DTS Interrogator Channel Supports a Dual Separate Path to Realize Spatial Duplexing

Abstract

Deploying distributed fiber-optic sensor (DFOS) technology to gather environmental parameters over expansive areas is an essential monitoring strategy in the context of comprehensive searches for anomalous places. This study utilizes a single temperature measurement channel within a commercial Raman-based distributed temperature sensing (RDTS) interrogator and divides it into two separate, uncorrelated paths to enable spatial duplex temperature measurements. The distinction between temperature events corresponding to each path in the dual separate path (DSP) in RDTS can be achieved when temperature events are concurrently occurring in the DSP. Additionally, the RDTS–DSP solution may integrate free space optics (FSO) into its fiber path, which serves to enhance the user-friendliness, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of DFOS technology. An RDTS measurement channel can effectively function as a DSP, thus doubling the RDTS measurement pathway, and can be combined with FSO to significantly improve RDTS performance.