1.5 microm photon-counting optical time-domain reflectometry with a single-photon detector based on upconversion in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide

Opt Lett. 2006 Mar 15;31(6):727-9. doi: 10.1364/ol.31.000727.

Abstract

Optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) is one of the most powerful tools in the characterization of optical fiber links. We demonstrate a photon-counting OTDR system at 1.5 microm with a single-photon detector, which combines frequency upconversion in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide and a silicon avalanche photodiode. The system exhibits high sensitivity, good spatial resolution, and short measurement time.