Interferometric chromatic dispersion measurements on short lengths of monomode optical fiber

Chromatic dispersion measurements on short lengths of monomode optical fiber by the technique of 'white light' interferometry are presented. Improved optoelectronic signal processing and rigorous data reduction techniques have resulted in a temporal resolution of >or=7*10/sup -5/ ps.nm/sup -1/ in a 1-m length of fiber, equivalent to 0.06% resolution in the measurement technique. This is equivalent to a first-order chromatic dispersion coefficient (D( lambda )) resolution of 0.07 ps.nm/sup -1/./sup -1/. The second-order chromatic dispersion coefficient (S( lambda )) resolution was 0.02 ps.nm/sup -2/.nm/sup -1/. Experimental results of D( lambda ) and S( lambda ) for three different fibers are compared to theoretical calculation of material and waveguide dispersion.<
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