1.65-/spl mu/m long-range distributed testing of optical fibers using a compact Q-switched fiber laser

Summary form only given. High-power pulsed sources operating at 1.65-/spl mu/m allow active monitoring of existing telecommunication links operating at around 1.5 /spl mu/m. They are also becoming increasingly important for characterizing losses at the higher wavelengths of extended bandwidth systems designed around the L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. A compact design based on Raman shifting the output of a Q-switched fiber laser operating at 1.5 /spl mu/m is described. It is first demonstrated as a source for a 1.65-/spl mu/m OTDR measurement and then as a source for a 1.65-/spl mu/m Raman-based distributed temperature sensor, in contrast to distributed temperature sensors normally operating at 1.5 /spl mu/m.