Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) is notable for its ability to characterize an optical fiber’s distributed Rayleigh scatter reflection profile with high spatial resolution and high sensitivity in a single laser optical frequency sweep, allowing for the measurement of strain and temperature with millimeter spatial resolution. We investigate manipulating the polarization state of the light launched into the fiber and the use of polarization diverse detection to capture the full polarization response of the scatter pattern. This enables measurement of fiber birefringence amplitude and orientation with high spatial resolution, and a wide range of additional sensing capabilities.

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Stephen Kreger, Emily Templeton, Daniel Kominsky, and Brian Templeton, "Distributed polarization state sensing with optical frequency domain reflectometry," Proc. SPIE 11000, Fiber Optic Sensors and Applications XVI, 1100006 (Presented at SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing: April 16, 2019; Published: 14 May 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2519184.