We have developed a frequency-domain phase shift system for measuring the zero-dispersion wavelength and the dispersion slope of single-mode optical fibers. A differential phase shift method and nonlinear four-wave mixing technique were also investigated. The frequency-domain phase shift method is used to produce Standard Reference Materials that have their zero-dispersion wavelengths characterized with an expanded uncertainty (k = 2) of ± 0.060 nm.
We have constructed and evaluated a video microscope with a 150- x 150-microm field of view for performing measurements of optical fiber geometry. The microscope consists of a frame transfer video camera, condensing and filtering optics, a 40x, 0.65 N.A. microscope objective, and frame digitizing electronics. Using simple digital algorithms, we measure distance with a random uncertainty of approximately 40 nm across the full field of view, but width measurements suffer from a systematic error between 0.1 and 0.2 microm.
We have developed three instruments for accurate measurement of optieal fiber cladding diameter: a contact micrometer, a scanning confocal microscope, and a white-light interference microscope. Each instrument has an estimated uncertainty (3 standard deviations) of 50 nm or less, but the confocal microscope may display a 20 nm systematic error as well. The micrometer is used to generate Standard Reference Materials that are commercially available.
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