Broad spectral range measurement of chromatic dispersion of polarization modes in holey fibers by interferometric techniques

摘要

We present the results of interferometric measurements of chromatic dispersion of polarization modes in holey fibers over a broad spectral range (e.g. 500-1600 nm). First, a spectral interferometric technique employing an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a birefringent holey fiber in the test arm is used for measuring the wavelength dependence of the differential group effective index of the one of the polarization modes supported by the fiber. We apply a five-term power series fit to the measured data and by its differentiation we obtain the chromatic dispersion. Second, a spectral interferometric technique employing a tandem configuration of a Michelson interferometer and the holey fiber under test is used for measuring the group modal birefringence in the fiber. From the measurements, the differential group effective index and the chromatic dispersion of the other polarization mode supported by the fiber are retrieved. We confirmed that the measurement results agree well with that specified by the manufacturer. We also measured by these techniques the chromatic dispersion in other birefringent holey fiber.