A fiber Bragg grating quasi-distributed sensing network with a wavelength-tunable chaotic fiber laser

We propose a novel quasi-distributed sensing system using a wavelength-tunable chaotic fiber laser as well as identical weak fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). FBG location is determined by measuring the time delay between the reference and the reflected chaotic light. The Bragg wavelength variety of a certain FBG, owing to the influence of external parameters, is scanned by a tunable chaotic fiber laser. The quasi-distributed sensing network is theoretically analyzed. Simulation results reveal hundreds of multiplexing capabilities and a spatial resolution of up to 1.3 cm.