System and method for simultaneously compensating chromatic dispersion and self phase modulation in optical fibers

摘要

At least one dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) is utilized to compensate for chromatic dispersion of an externally modulated signal carried by at least one single mode, standard fiber optic cable. The self phase modulation (SPM) effect in the standard fiber is characterized by a pulse compression and associated pulse distortion when a 1550 nm wavelength signal is launched into the fiber. Because the SPM effect in the DCF fiber is characterized by a pulse broadening for the same signal, the DCF fiber is also utilized to compensate for the SPM effect in the standard fiber. To this end, the signal power launched into the DCF fiber is controlled such that precise compensation for the SPM effect in the standard fiber can be achieved. Control of the launching power is needed because the mode field diameter of the DCF fiber is smaller than that of the standard single mode fiber so that the DCF fiber experiences the SPM effect at a lower power than the single mode fiber.