RF Throughput of Dispersion-Shifted Optical Fiber Propagating Intensity Modulated Laser Light

Abstract

The theoretical effects of chromatic dispersion in silicon-based single-mode optical fiber on intensity modulated laser light are discussed. A model for small-signal tone modulation is developed; experimental techniques are then derived to test the model. An experimental set-up utilizes a network analyzer to obtain the RF throughput of Corning Payout and Corning SMF-DS optical fiber and a scanning Fabry-Perot etalon to record the laser output mode spectrum. RF throughput scans are performed with both a semiconductor laser diode at A == 1310 nm and an adjustable mode-spaced laser source at A == 1319 nm. The validity of the model developed for small signal tone modulation is checked by observing the model's RF throughput best fit quality and the proximity of the different best fit fiber dispersion functions in the observed wavelength ranges of the tested lasers.