Abstract

The idea of using a linearly chirped fiber grating for chromatic dispersion compensation was first patented in 19S4,¹ and independently published in 1987,² These first two disclosures predate the invention of UV-written gratings, as well as any real need for chromatic dispersion-compensation in optical fiber systems. The limitations of attenuation in optical fiber systems were, however, removed with the development of Er-doped fiber amplifiers. Their widespread acceptance has exacerbated the problem of dispersion: to take advantage of the possibility of optical amplification, installed systems designed for minimum dispersion at 1.3 μm have to be used at 1.55 μm, where dispersion is roughly 10 times larger. At the same time, the bit rates continue to increase, and are now reaching 10 G b/s. Dispersion being proportional to the square of the bit rate, a clear demand for a dispersion-compensating component started to emerge around 1992.

© 1996 Optical Society of America