Single-arm 3-wave interferometer for measuring dispersion in short lengths of fiber

Single-arm three wave interferometer for measuring dispersion in short lengths of fiber Michael Anthony Galle Master of Applied Science Graduate Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering University of Toronto 2007 A simple fiber-based single-arm spectral interferometer to measure the dispersion parameter in short lengths of fiber (< 50 cm) with a measurement precision of 0.0001 ps/nm is developed. Dispersion is measured by examining the envelope of the interference pattern produced by three interfering waves: two from the facets of the test fiber and one from a mirror placed behind it. The operational constraints on system parameters are discussed and a method for extending one of them is introduced. Experimental verification of this technique is carried out via comparison of measurements made on SMF28 and DCF with those made using conventional techniques. Moreover, this new technique is used to measure the dispersion of twin-hole fiber for the first time.