Abstract

Accurate measurement of the Raman gain coefficient and group velocity dispersion in fibers is becoming increasingly important for determining the degree of Raman-induced channel cross talk in long-hall wavelength-division multiplexing systems. The search for fibers with enhanced Raman gain used to generate 1.48-μm pumps for erbium-doped fiber amplifiers also require measurement. Present values of Raman gain coefficient for silica fibers are calculated from the measured spontaneous Raman cross section of fused quartz.¹ These measurements require highly sensitive detection and calibration against a known standard. Direct measurement of Raman gain is also cumbersome; it requires an intense pump and a probe, which is tunable from 0 to ~14 THz away from the pump frequency.

© 1996 Optical Society of America