A novel method for Brillouin gain spectrum measurements in optical fib
ers is presented. It is based on the pump and probe technique with the
specificity to use a single laser source together with an external mo
dulator to generate the interacting lightwaves. The high accuracy and
inherent stability of the technique makes it suitable for calibration
and reference measurements. Different fibers with different refractive
index profiles have been tested and characterized. The problem of the
evolution of the polarization of the interacting waves is addressed i
n the article and a polarization insensitive determination of the actu
al Brillouin gain coefficient is made possible through two successive
measurements with different polarizations. The effects of strain and t
emperature on the Brillouin gain spectrum are also fully characterized
.