Fast, accurate and simple method for measuring the chromatic dispersion of optical fibers using a single-arm interferometer and a frequency comb

We propose and study a novel method for measuring the chromatic dispersion parameter (D) of optical fibers by means of a single-arm three-wave interferometer (SAI) and a fiber femtosecond frequency comb (FFFC). The FFFC is frequency locked to a single-ytterbium-ion optical standard and employed as a source of highly stable and broadband laser radiation. The FFFC spectrum ranges from 1 to 2 μm, which is the most demanded range in fiber optics. The theoretical model developed in the work is used to derive simple analytical expressions for the parameter D, taking into account the dispersion slope (DS). To verify the method, the parameter D is measured for a standard single-mode SMF-28 fiber with a length of 1.23 m. At a wavelength of 1550 nm, the value of D has been found to be approximately 16.6 ps/(nm∙km) with taking into account the DS. The root mean square error of measurements is 0.86 ps/(nm∙km). Another key feature of the method is that it enables accurate measurements of the parameter D across a broad spectral range in a relatively short time. All these features make the proposed method very attractive for a wide scope of applications in fiber-optic technology.