Accurate measurements of the zero-dispersion wavelength in optical fibers

Abstract

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.

Multimode fiber launch study :

“…Also, this assumption is general 1\ (a) Step Index We measured the group delay of multimode optical fibers with a frequency-domain "phase-shift" technique similar to those described in references [3][4][5]. A schematic diagram of the apparatus used is shown in Fig.…”

“…The group delay r of the fiber is r = aw (3) Because m is unknown, an iterative method was used to estimate r as follows:…”

Group-velocity dispersion in multimode photonic crystal fibers measured using time-domain white-light interferometry

“…15 Also, one can use the phase-shift technique to detect the phase difference between two incident signals with respect to their wavelength difference to the phase of a reference signal. [16][17][18] Another setup based on Fourier-domain whitelight interferometry monitors the spectral change of the modulation frequency by superimposing the two beams of light. 19,20 We report on an interferometric setup to measure the dispersion parameter of single-and multimode fibers in a wavelength range from 450 nm to 1100 nm by detecting interference fringes appearing when the two beams are superimposed.…”

Polarization Losses in Optical Fibers

“…In a fiber-optic communication system, information is transmitted within a fiber by using a coded sequence of optical pulses whose width is determined by the bit rate of the system. The CD induced broadening of pulses is undesirable phenomenon since it interferes with the detection process leading to errors in the received bit pattern (Kogelnik & Jopson 2002;Mechels et al 1997). Clearly GVD will limit the bit rate and the transmission distance of a fiber-optic communication system.…”