Abstract

We present a new noninvasive technique for measuring the spatial variation of the zero-dispersion wavelength $\left({\lambda }_0\right)$ in single-mode fibers. This technique uses low-power continuous-wave lasers and is simple to implement. When applying this technique to dispersion-shifted fibers, we can resolve subnanometer fluctuations in ${\lambda }_0$ with a potential spatial resolution of better than 100 m. We also discuss and show the limits of this and other techniques that arise from polarization-mode dispersion in the fibers.

© 1998 Optical Society of America

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