Abstract

In order to implement or accommodate nonlinearity in future telecommunications systems the nonlinear coefficient n₂ must be accurately known and the affect of fiber constitution on the nonlinearity readily determinable. We describe here a technique that employs a cw pumping scheme, based upon the effect of self-phase modulation of a beat signal derived from two diode laser sources, to determine n₂, which can be readily applied to both short and long fiber lengths. The technique has been used to determine the nonlinear coefficient of standard telecommunications, dispersion-shifted and dispersion-compensating optical fibers.

© 1996 Optical Society of America