Fast and accurate low-coherence interferometric measurements of fiber Bragg grating dispersion and reflectance

We demonstrate fast and accurate measurements of fiber Bragg grating disper sion and spectral reflectance using low-coherence interferometry. Both disp ersion and spectral reflectance are obtained in less than 60 seconds, rende ring the results immune to errors caused by temperature variations and inst rumental drift. To examine the accuracy of the low-coherence technique, we compare the results with independent measurements and demonstrate an agreem ent better than 1.5 ps for dispersion and 25 pm for spectral reflectance wa velength. This manuscript describes work of the US Government and therefore is not subject to copyright.