Characterization of Polarization-Maintaining Fiber Using High-Sensitivity Optical-Frequency-Domain Reflectometry

Author

Froggatt, Mark E. ; Gifford, Dawn K. ; Kreger, Steven ; Wolfe, Matthew ; Soller, Brian J.

Author_Institution

Luna Technol., Blacksburg, VA

Volume

24

Issue

11

fYear

2006

Firstpage

4149

Lastpage

4154

Abstract

Optical-frequency-domain reflectometry is used to measure the group-index difference and the refractive-index difference (i.e., beat length) between the fast and slow modes in polarization-maintaining optical fiber. The Rayleigh scatter normally present in the fiber is measured in reflection. This measurement, in turn, enables a distributed measurement of the fiber´s birefringence that is rapid and completely nondestructive

Keywords

Rayleigh scattering; birefringence; optical fibre polarisation; optical fibre testing; reflectometry; Rayleigh scatter; birefringence; group-index difference; optical-frequency-domain reflectometry; polarization-maintaining fiber; refractive-index difference; Birefringence; Optical fiber communication; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber polarization; Optical fiber testing; Optical interferometry; Optical refraction; Optical scattering; Optical sensors; Reflectometry; Birefringence; fiber characterization; optical-frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR); polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JLT.2006.883607

Filename

4012191