Statistical properties of backscattered semiconductor laser radiation with different degrees of coherence

This paper compares the statistical properties of the backscatter intensity in a single-mode optical fibre for semiconductor lasers with a high and a low degree of coherence. We demonstrate that, when short probe pulses are used, shorter than the coherence times of the lasers, the statistical properties of the backscatter intensity obtained with the two lasers are identical, and the intensity distribution over an ensemble of independent fibre sections has an exponential form for both. With increasing probe pulse duration, the backscatter intensity distribution obtained with the shorter coherence time laser approaches a Gaussian one, whereas the distribution function obtained with the high-coherence laser remains nearly exponential. Reflectograms of a coherent reflectometer that relies on the detection of backscattered radiation have the highest contrast for an exponential backscatter intensity distribution over an ensemble of independent fibre sections. The reflectometer then probably has the highest sensitivity to external influences. This leads us to conclude that, when short probe pulses are used, which ensure high spatial resolution (10 m and better), one can use a laser with a short coherence time, equal to the pulse duration.