Fiber Optic Measurement Techniques

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To Erica and Andy, with Love

Preface

practical application of fiber-optic communications. Over the following several

years, fiber losses dropped dramatically, aided both by improved fabrication

methods and the shift to longer wavelengths, where fibers have inherently lower

attenuation.

Meanwhile, the prospect of long distance fiber-optic communication intensi-

fied research and development efforts in semiconductor lasers and other related

optical devices. Near-infrared semiconductor lasers and LEDs operating at

810nm, 1320nm and 1550nm wavelengths were developed to fit into the low loss

windows of silica optical fibers. The bandwidth in the 1550nm wavelength win-

dow alone can be as wide as 80nm, which is approximately 10THz. In order to

gies have found a variety of other applications ranging from precision metrol-

ogy, to imaging, to photonic sensors. Various optical measurement techniques

have been proposed and demonstrated in research, development, maintenance

and trouble-shooting of optical systems. Different optical systems demand dif-

ferent measurement and testing techniques based on the specific application

and the key requirements of each system. Over the years, fiber-optic measure-

ment has become a stand-alone research discipline, which is both interesting

and challenging.

In general, optical measurements can be categorized into instrumentation

and measurement methodology. In many cases, the measurement capability

gies is necessary, which helps in determining how to make the most efficient

use of the available instrumentations, how to extract useful signals, and how

to interpret and process the results.

The focus of this book is the measurement techniques related to fiber-optic

systems, subsystems and devices. Since both optical systems and optical instru-

ments are built upon various optical components, basic optical devices are

discussed in chapter 1, which includes semiconductor lasers and LEDs, photo-

detectors, fundamental properties of optical fibers, optical amplifiers and optical

modulators. Familiarity with the characteristics of these individual building

blocks is essential for the understanding of optical measurement setups and

helps in the understanding of linear optical sampling and vectorial optical net-

work analyzer. In chapter 3, we discuss techniques of characterizing optical

devices such as semiconductor lasers, optical receivers, optical amplifiers and var-

ious passive optical devices. Optical and optoelectronic transfer functions, inten-

sity and phase noises and modulation characteristics are important parameters to

investigate. Chapter 4 discusses measurement of optical fibers, including attenua-

tion, chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion and optical nonlinearity.

Finally, chapter 5 is dedicated to the discussion of measurement issues related to

optical communication systems.

Instead of describing performance and specification of specific instruments,

First, I would like to thank Mr. Tim Pitts of Academic Press. The idea of

developing this book began in early 2006 when Tim and I met at the Optical

Fiber Communications Conference (OFC) where he asked if I would consider

writing a book in fiber-optic measurements. I particularly like this topic because