Method of determining the zero dispersion wavelength of an optical waveguide

US5557694A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Alcatel N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Gustav Veith · Hemmingen, DE
• Henning Bulow · Kornwestheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 24, 1995
• Grant date: Sep 17, 1996
• Expiry date: Mar 24, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M11/335
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

It is necessary to know the zero dispersion wavelength .lambda..sub.0, to ensure the reliable transmission of high bit-rate frequency signals via remote transmission paths. The method for determining the zero dispersion wavelength of an optical waveguide knowingly utilizes a disturbing effect that is undesirable in optical communications transmission techniques, which is able to lower the transmission quality. This effect is the so-called four-wave mixing, or in special cases a partially degenerated four-wave mixing. The method couples two light signals of different wavelengths (.lambda..sub.1, .lambda..sub.2) into an optical waveguide (4). A mixing product which occurs in the optical waveguide as a result of a partially degenerated four-wave mixing is evaluated by an analyzer (3). The wavelength of one of the two light signals is selectively varied until the optical output of the mixing product reaches a maximum. At that point the wavelength of this light signal coincides with the zero dispersion wavelength .lambda..sub.0.