A downhole sensing method includes modulating light to form a soliton that propagates through an optical fiber acting as a sensing element that measures a downhole parameter. The method further includes obtaining scattered light created as the soliton propagates through the optic-fiber. The method further includes determining a value for a downhole parameter based on the scattered light, and displaying a representation of the value.

A soliton generation apparatus comprising: an optical resonator; a pumping laser for providing light at a pumping wavelength into the optical resonator; a generator for generating multiple solitons in the optical resonator; a detuning device for changing the wavelength detuning between the pumping laser wavelength and an optical resonance wavelength of the optical resonator to remove at least one soliton of the generated multiple solitons to provide (i) a plurality of solitons that comprises at least one less soliton than that of the generated multiple solitons or (ii) a single soliton in the optical resonator.

A downhole sensing method includes modulating light to form a soliton that propagates through an optical fiber acting as a sensing element that measures a downhole parameter. The method further includes obtaining scattered light created as the soliton propagates through the optical fiber. The method further includes determining a value for a downhole parameter based on the scattered light, and displaying a representation of the value.

A soliton generation apparatus comprising: an optical resonator; a pumping laser for providing light at a pumping wavelength into the optical resonator; a generator for generating multiple solitons in the optical resonator; a detuning device for changing the wavelength detuning between the pumping laser wavelength and an optical resonance wavelength of the optical resonator to remove at least one soliton of the generated multiple solitons to provide (i) a plurality of solitons that comprises at least one less soliton than that of the generated multiple solitons or (ii) a single soliton in the optical resonator.