HIGH-RESOLUTION ZERO-DISPERSION WAVELENGTH MAPPING IN SINGLE-MODE FIBER

We present a new noninvasive technique for measuring the spatial varia tion of the zero-dispersion wavelength (lambda(o)) in single-mode fibe rs. This technique uses low-power continuous-wave lasers and is simple to implement. When applying this technique to dispersion-shifted fibe rs, we can resolve subnanometer fluctuations in Ao with a potential sp atial resolution of better than 100 m. We also discuss and show the li mits of this and other techniques that arise from polarization-mode di spersion in the fibers. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.