On the Minimum Uncertainty of Attenuation Coefficient Measurement in a Single-Mode Optical Fiber Achievable Using Rayleigh OTDR

A study has been made of the accuracy of measuring the attenuation coefficient in a single-mode optical fiber using Rayleigh reflectometry. It has been theoretically established that the minimum achievable uncertainty of such measurements is determined only by the spectral properties of the probe radiation and decreases with an increase in the length of the measured fiber to the power of 1.5. A statistical analysis of the results of measuring the attenuation coefficient in different segments of a real single-mode fiber by their reflectograms demonstrates results that are consistent with theoretical conclusions. The results set limits on the minimum fiber length for which the attenuation coefficient can be measured with the required accuracy.