A method and system for simultaneously measuring strain and temperature
characteristics of an object involves the attachment to the object of a
pair of optical fibers having different refractive indices, the fibers
being connected together at least one end thereof, and directing laser
light into at least one end of the fibers. The Brillouin frequency of
each of the fibers is measure and the strain and temperature
characteristics are calculated based on the coefficients of strain and
temperature and the measured Brillouin frequencies of the fibers.