title: Fourier-domain low-coherence interferometry for differential mode delay analysis of an optical fiber.
abstract: We propose a novel mode analysis and differential mode delay measurement method for an optical fiber using Fourier-domain low-coherence interferometry. A spectral interferometer based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer setup was used with a broadband source and an optical spectrum analyzer to detect relative temporal delays between the guided modes of a few-mode optical fiber by analyzing spectral interference signals. We have shown that experimental results of the proposed method agree well with those results obtained by using a conventional time-domain measurement method. We have demonstrated that this new mode analysis technique has high sensitivity (<60 dB) and very good resolution (<1 ps/m).
authors.affiliation: Department of Information and Communications, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 1 Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500-712, Korea. jylee@gist.ac.kr
authors.forename: Ji Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae-Jung
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sucbei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Young Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Youk
authors.forename: Yong Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Kyunghwan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Dug Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim