Interferometric chromatic dispersion measurements on short lengthsof 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 ⩾7×10^-5 ps·nm^-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(λ)) resolution of 0.07 ps·nm^-1·^-1. The second-order chromatic dispersion coefficient (S(λ)) resolution was 0.02 ps·nm^-2·nm^-1. Experimental results of D(λ) and S(λ) for three different fibers are compared to theoretical calculation of material and waveguide dispersion