Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02413458 2003-01-07
OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical-
transmission system, and in another aspect to a
dispersion-compensating fiber for inclusion therein.
They can be applied to an optical fiber transmission
network capable of long-distance and high-bit-rate
optical communication utilizing the 1.55 pm-band
wavelength-multiplexing signal light. This application
is divided from Canadian Patent Application 2,202,586,
filed April 14, 1997.
Related Background Art
From social needs based on the coming of advanced
information society, research and development has been
conducted vividly heretofore as to high-bit-rate high-
speed communication such as video communication and long-
distance communication such as international
communication utilizing the optical fiber transmission
network.
In the case of the optical fiber transmission
network to realize such long-distance and high-bit-rate
optical communication, first, its transmission lines need
to be optical fibers that permit only single-mode
propagation. It is because mode dispersion (represented
by dispersion due to a difference between group
velocities of respective propagation modes)
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inevitably takes place in the case of multimode
communication.
Thus, the first countermeasure was the single-mode
optical fiber permitting only single-mode propagation.
This single-mode optical fiber is free of occurrence of
mode dispersion, but chromatic dispersion represented
by the sum of material dispersion (dispersion due to
wavelength dependence of refractive index specific to a
material of optical fiber) and structural dispersion
(dispersion due to wavelength dependence of group
velocity of propagation mode) confines transmission
capacity. Specifically, even if the wavelength of
light emitted from a light source is said to be single,
though rigorously speaking, it will have a certain
spectral width. When a light pulse having this
spectral width propagates in the single-mode optical
fiber having predetermined chromatic dispersion
characteristics, the width of the light pulse is
broadened, so as to deform the pulse shape. This
chromatic dispersion is expressed as a transmission
delay time difference per unit spectral width (nm) and
unit optical fiber length (km) in units of (ps/km/nm).
It is, however, known that silica normally used as
a material for optical fiber shows zero material
dispersion near the wavelengths of 1.26 to 1.29 pm.
Since the structural dispersion varies depending upon
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parameters of optical fiber, the optimum design of the
parameters of optical fiber permits the material
dispersion and the structural dispersion to cancel each
other near the wavelengths of 1.3 to 1.32 pm, thereby
realizing zero chromatic dispersion. Therefore, use of
single-mode optical fiber allows longer-distance and
larger-bit-rate optical communication near the
wavelength 1.3 pm than use of multimode optical fiber
does. In practice, the single-mode optical fibers are
used in optical communication of the communication
distance of several hundred km and the communication
capacity of several hundred Mbit/sec.
However, transmission loss of optical fiber is
minimum in the 1.55 pm wavelength band, from which
there have been desires for optical communication
utilizing the 1.55 pm-band light. This resulted in
developing a dispersion shifted fiber in which the
wavelength where the chromatic dispersion was zero
(zero-dispersion wavelength) was shifted into this
wavelength band. In the dispersion shifted fiber,
because the material dispersion cannot be changed so
much, the index profile thereof is designed optimally
to change the value of structural dispersion, thereby
setting the zero-dispersion wavelength in the vicinity
of 1.55 pm. This dispersion shifted fiber, together
with an erbium (Er)-doped optical fiber amplifier, is
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employed in the long distance optical fiber
transmission system with the transmission capacity
being several Gbit/sec, utilizing the 1.55 pm-band
wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal light.
On the other hand, there are many single-mode
optical fibers already installed heretofore.
Therefore, needs exist for optical communication in the
1.55 pm wavelength band utilizing the existing single-
mode optical fiber transmission network. Thus, an
attempt has been made to cascade-connect a dispersion
compensating fiber having negative chromatic dispersion
and negative dispersion slope to a single-mode optical
fiber having positive chromatic dispersion in the 1.55
pm wavelength band, thereby canceling out the chromatic
dispersion and dispersion slope as the whole of optical
transmission line (for example, as in the bulletin of
Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 6-11620).
In a graph to show the chromatic dispersion, the
dispersion slope is given as a slope of the graph.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventors investigated the above-stated prior
art and found the following problems. Specifically,
with the above-stated dispersion shifted fiber, the
chromatic dispersion thereof becomes zero at a
predetermined wavelength near the wavelength 1.55 pm.
However, the chromatic dispersion is not zero in the
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regions before and after the wavelength (the zero-
dispersion wavelength) and the chromatic dispersion
increases with increasing wavelength in general when a
sign of chromatic dispersion is positive. In other
words, the dispersion slope (which is the wavelength
dependence of chromatic dispersion and is expressed in
units of (ps/km/nm2)) has a positive sign in this
condition. This would be a problem in the case of
cormunication by the wavelength division multiplexing
(WDM) system for multiplexing signal light components
of mutually different wavelengths in order to further
raise the transmission speed to higher rates. Namely,
there is such a tendency that among the 1.55 pm-band
wavelength-multiplexing signal light (having a
plurality of wavelengths) the chromatic dispersion
becomes larger (positive) for signal light components
of longer wavelengths while the chromatic dispersion
becomes smaller (negative) for signal light components
of shorter wavelengths (i.e., there is such a trend as
to have positive dispersion slope), which results in
the limit of increase in transmission speed in the WDM
method.
On the other hand, studies on dispersion-flattened
optical fibers the both chromatic dispersion and
dispersion slope of which become nearly zero in the
1.55 pm wavelength band are reported, for example, in
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Kubo et al., "Characteristics of double cladding type low-
dispersion SM fiber," C-374, Abstracts (The spring
meeting, 1990); Institute of Electronics, Information and
Communication Engineers of Japan, and P. K. Bachmann et
al., "Dispersion-Flattened Single-Mode Fibers Prepared
with PCVD: Performance, Limitations, Design
Optimization," J. of Lightwave Technol., Vol. LT-4, No. 2,
pp. 858-863 (1986). However, the dispersion-flattened
fibers need to be fabricated with extremely precise
control of the size, such as the core diameter, and the
refractive index profile and are hard to fabricate, thus
not coming to the stage of practical application yet.
It is an object of one aspect of the present
invention to provide an optical transmission system
enabling long-distance and high-bit-rate optical
communication.
In accordance with this invention an optical-
transmission system comprises a dispersion-shifted fiber
having a zero dispersion wavelength between the
wavelengths from 1450 um to 1650 pm, and a dispersion=
compensating fiber optically coupled to that dispersion-
shifted fiber; the optical-transmission system having a
total dispersion slope not less than -0.02 ps/km/nm2 and
not more than 0.05 ps/km/nm2 for light in the 1.55 pm
wavelength band. When a light source is coupled with the
dispersion-compensating fiber for generating an excitation
light into it to amplify a signal light therein by
utilizing a Raman amplification, it can compensate for
loss in signal light transmitted in the dispersion-
compensating fiber which is caused in the dispersion-
compensating fiber.
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In another embodiment an optical-transmission system
comprises: an optical fiber having a positive dispersion at
signal light having a 1.55 pm wavelength; a dispersion-
compensating optical fiber optically coupled to the optical
fiber, and which compensates for the dispersion and a
dispersion slope of the optical fiber at the same time; and a
light source coupled with the dispersion-compensating fiber
for transmitting an excitation light beam into said
dispersion-compensating fiber to amplify a signal light
therein by utilizing Raman amplification, thereby to
compensate for loss in signal light transmitted in the
dispersion-compensating fiber which is caused in the
dispersion-compensating fiber. The optical-transmission
system has a total dispersion slope not less than -0.02
ps/km/nm2 and not more than 0.05 ps/km/nm2 for light in the
1.55 pm wavelength band.
By optically connecting a dispersion-compensating fiber
according to another aspect of the invention to a
conventional optical fiber transmission line in respectively
appropriate lengths, the overall chromatic dispersion and
dispersion slope of the optical transmission line in the 1.55
pm wavelength band is improved (i.e., making absolute values
of chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope closer to zero).
The dispersion-compensating fiber according to another
aspect of the present invention is characterized by having
the following characteristics for 1.55 pm-band light:
dispersion slope not less than -0.5 ps/km/nm2 and not more
than -0.1 ps/km/nm2; transmission loss not more than 0.5
dB/km; polarization mode dispersion not more than 0.7 ps=km-
1/2; cut-off wavelength not less than 0.7 pm and not more
than 1.7 pm at a length of 2 m or the like; and
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bending loss at a diameter of 20 mm, not more than 100
dB/m. Preferably, chromatic dispersion is not less than
-40 ps/km/nm and not is more than 0 ps/km/nm. Usually,
mode field diameter is not less than 4.5 }.zm and not more
than 6.5 pm.
In this specification, "1.55 pm wavelength band" means
the band in the range of wavelengths 1500 to 1600 nm.
The transmission line can be improved in the overall
chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope in the 1.55 pm
band by optically connecting the dispersion-compensating
fiber with an optical fiber as a compensated object
(mainly, a dispersion-shifted fiber or a transmission
system including this dispersion-shifted fiber) at a
predetermined ratio of lengths. Further, long-distance and
high-bit-rate optical communication becomes possible based
on these characteristics and the conditions of transmission
loss, polarization mode dispersion, cut-off wavelength
(cut-off wavelength in a reference length of 2 m), and
bending loss (bending loss at a diameter of 20 mm).
Further, the dispersion-compensating fiber according
to the present invention preferably has such
characteristics for the 1.55 pm band light that the
chromatic dispersion thereof is not less than -20 ps/km/nm
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and not more than -5 ps/km/nm and that the dispersion slope
thereof is not less than -0.4 ps/km/nm2 and not more than
-0.13 ps/km/nm2. This setting of chromatic dispersion and
dispersion slope allows the whole of the optical
transmission system including the dispersion-compensating
fiber (and including the dispersion-shifted fiber the zero-
dispersion wavelength of which is set in the wavelength
range of 1450 to 1650 nm, preferably in the range of 1450
to 1550 nm) to be compensated more suitably (which means
that the absolute values of chromatic dispersion and
dispersion slope of the whole can be made closer to zero).
For achieving the above characteristics, the
dispersion-compensating fiber according to the present
invention is characterized by being a single-mode optical
fiber mainly containing a silica-based glass, which
comprises at least: a core region having a predetermined
refractive index, the core region having an outer diameter
not less than 3.5 pm and not more than 6.0 pm; an inside
cladding region provided on the periphery of the core
region and having a lower refractive index than the core
region, wherein a ratio of the outer diameter of the core
region to an outer diameter of this inside cladding region
is not less than 0.3 and not more than 0.5; and an outside
cladding region provided on the periphery of the inside
cladding region and having a higher refractive index than
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the inside cladding region and a lower refractive index
than the core region, wherein a relative refractive index
difference, between the outside cladding region and a
portion in said core region with a maximum refractive
index, is not less than 0.6 % and not more than 1.4 % and
wherein a relative refractive index difference, between the
outside cladding region and a portion in the inside
cladding region with a minimum refractive index is not less
than 0.25 % and not more than 0.65 %.
Further, when the dispersion-compensating fiber is of
triple cladding structure, the dispersion-compensating
fiber has an intermediate cladding region, between the
inside cladding region and outside cladding region, having
a higher refractive index than the outside cladding region
and a lower refractive index than the core region. A
refractive index difference between the outside cladding
region and a portion in the intermediate cladding region
with a maximum refractive index, is not less than 0.2 % and
not more than 0.5 %.
In order to attain the sufficient relative refractive
index difference with a low dopant concentration, the
dispersion-compensating fiber according to the present
invention, having the above configuration, is preferably
made in such a manner that the above core region is doped
with the germanium element and the above inside cladding
CA 02413458 2003-01-07
region is doped with the fluorine element. In addition, it
is also possible to realize such a configuration that the
above outside cladding region is also doped with the
fluorine element.
Further, the dispersion-compensating fiber according
to the present invention, together with another optical
fiber (compensated object) optically connected to the
dispersion-compensating fiber and forming a part of the
optical transmission line, constitutes an optical
transmission system (see Fig. 1). The optical transmission
system including the dispersion-compensating fiber
preferably has a dispersion slope not less than
-0.02 ps/km/nmz and not more than 0.05 ps/km/nm 2 for
1.5 pm-band light. Such an optical transmission system
permits long-distance and high-bit-rate optical
transmission and particularly, in realizing the optical
communication utilizing multi-wavelength light by the WDM
method, it permits much longer-distance and higher-bit-rate
optical communication.
The optical fiber transmission line as a dispersion-
compensated object, forming the optical transmission line
of the optical transmission system together with the
dispersion-compensating fiber, is preferably a dispersion-
shifted fiber, the zero-dispersion wavelength of which is
shifted to 1560 nm or less. When the compensated object is
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the dispersion-shifted fiber having the zero-dispersion
wavelength not more than 1.55 um, the dispersion-shifted
fiber is readily compensated for chromatic dispersion and
chromatic dispersion slope by the dispersion-compensating
fiber according to the present invention.
In addition, the optical transmission system
comprising the dispersion-compensating fiber and the
dispersion-shifted fiber as a compensated object as
described above may further comprise an optical fiber
amplifier forming a part of the optical transmission line.
This optical fiber amplifier comprises at least an optical
fiber for amplification a core region of which is doped with
the erbium element, an excitation light source for outputting
exciting light to the optical fiber for exciting the erbium
element in the optical fiber, and an optical coupler for
optically coupling the excitation light source with the
optical fiber. Since the length of the optical fiber for
amplification inserted in this optical transmission system is
far shorter than the length of the dispersion-shifted fiber
or the whole optical transmission line including the
dispersion-shifted fiber, contribution thereof to the
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chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope to be
compensated for as the whole of optical transmission
line is negligible.
On the other hand, the dispersion compensating
fiber according to the present invention may be made in
such a configuration that the core region is doped with
the erbium element. The dispersion compensating fiber
containing the erbium element as described can function
as an optical fiber for amplification.
Accordingly, the optical transmission system
comprising the dispersion compensating fiber the core
region of which is doped with the erbium element
comprises the dispersion compensating fiber according
to the present invention, another optical fiber
(compensated object) optically connected to the
dispersion compensating fiber and forming a part of the
optical transmission line, an excitation light source
for outputting exciting light for exciting the erbium
element in the dispersion compensating fiber, to the
dispersion compensating fiber, and an optical coupler
for optically coupling the excitation light source with
the dispersion compensating fiber. According to this
configuration, the optical transmission system
comprising the dispersion compensating fiber, as the
whole of optical transmission line, has the dispersion
slope not less than -0.02 ps/km/nm2 and not more than
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0.05 ps/km/nmz for the 1.5 pm-band light. The optical
transmission system of this type enables longer-
distance, higher-bit-rate, and low-loss optical
communication.
In the optical transmission system comprising this
optical fiber amplifier (having the dispersion
compensating fiber according to the present invention),
the above dispersion-compensated object is preferably a
dispersion shifted fiber the zero-dispersion wavelength
of which is shifted to 1560 nm or less.
The present invention will be more fully understood
from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the
accompanying drawings, which are given by way of
illustration only and are not to be considered as
limiting the present invention.
Further scope of applicability of the present
invention will become apparent from the detailed
description given hereinafter. However, it should be
understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since
various changes and modifications within the spirit and
scope of the invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a drawing to show the configuration of
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the optical transmission system having the dispersion
compensating fiber according to the present invention
and the dispersion shifted fiber;
Fig. 2 is a drawing to show the configuration of
the optical transmission system comprising the
dispersion compensating fiber according to the present
invention and the optical fiber amplifier;
Fig. 3 is a graph for explaining the chromatic
dispersion compensation and dispersion slope
compensation by the dispersion compensating fiber
according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a drawing to show the cross-sectional
structure and index profile of the first embodiment of
the dispersion compensating fiber according to the
present invention;
Fig. 5 is a drawing to show the cross-sectional
structure and index profile of the second embodiment of
the dispersion compensating fiber according to the
present invention;
Fig. 6 is a drawing to show the cross-sectional
structure and index profile of the third embodiment of
the dispersion compensating fiber according to the
present invention;
Fig. 7 is a drawing to show various application
examples of the index profile (Fig. 4) applicable to
the first embodiment of the dispersion compensating
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fiber according to the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a drawing to show various application
examples of the index profile (Fig. 5) applicable to
the second embodiment of the dispersion compensating
fiber according to the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a drawing to show various application
examples of the index profile (Fig. 6) applicable to
the third embodiment of the dispersion compensating
fiber according to the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a table to show experiment results of
dispersion compensating fibers having the double
cladding structure; and
Fig. 11 is a table to show experiment results of
dispersion compensating fibers having the triple
cladding structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The dispersion compensating fiber and the optical
transmission system including it according to the
present invention will be described with reference to
Fig. 1 to Fig. 10. In the description of the drawings
the same elements will be denoted by the same reference
numerals and redundant description will be omitted.
The dispersion compensating fiber according to the
present invention has the following characteristics in
the 1.55 pm wavelength band. Specifically, the
chromatic dispersion is in the range of -40 to 0
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ps/km/nm, the dispersion slope is in the range of -0.5
to -0.1 ps/km/nmZ, the transmission loss is not more
than 0.5 dB/km, the polarization mode dispersion (PMD)
is not more than 0.7 ps=km-112, the mode field diameter
(MFD) is in the range of 4.5 to 6.5 pm, the cut-off
wavelength is in the range of 0.7 to 1.7 pm, and the
bending loss at the diameter of 20 mm is not more than
100 dB/m.
In the case of optical transmission in the 1.55 pm
band, the cut-off wavelength normally selected is one
not more than 1.55 pm, which is shorter than the
wavelength of signal light in the reference length of 2
m (according to the measuring method by CCITT-G.650).
In the length as short as 2 m being the reference of
normal evaluation of cut-off wavelength, not only the
fundamental mode of transmitted light but also higher
modes may propagate in the case of the dispersion
shifted fiber (for example, in the case of the cut-off
wavelength being 1.7 pm in the reference length of 2
m). However, the higher modes have higher attenuation
rates in propagation in the dispersion shifted fiber
than the fundamental mode, so that they are attenuated
sufficiently in the propagation length of several km,
as compared with the fundamental mode. Therefore, when
the propagation distance ranges from several hundred to
several thousand km like submarine communication
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cables, the higher modes will raise no problem. The
above bending loss is an increase in transmission loss
of the dispersion compensating fiber, when measured in
such a state that it is wound around a mandrel having
the diameter of 20 mm. In this specification, the 1.55
pm wavelength band is the band ranging from 1500 to
1600 nm.
The dispersion compensating fiber according to the
present invention compensates not only for the
chromatic dispersion, but also for the dispersion slope
of another optical fiber being a compensated object
(for example, the single-mode optical fiber, the
dispersion shifted fiber, or the whole of the optical
fiber transmission line including these fibers) as
described hereinafter. Particularly, it is suitable
for compensating for the chromatic dispersion and
dispersion slope of the dispersion shifted fiber. It
is more preferable in compensating for the chromatic
dispersion and dispersion slope of the dispersion
shifted fiber that the chromatic dispersion be in the
range of -20 to -5 ps/km/nm and the dispersion slope be
in the range of -0.4 to -0.13 ps/km/nm2.
Next, the configurations of the optical
transmission system having the dispersion compensating
fiber according to the present invention will be
described referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.
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Fig. 1 is a drawing to show the configuration of
the optical transmission system in which the dispersion
compensating fiber 100 according to the present
invention is cascade-connected with the dispersion
shifted fiber 500 being a main compensated object. In
this optical transmission system, one end (input end)
of the dispersion.compensating fiber 100 is optically
connected through optical fiber transmission line 10
(single-mode optical fiber) with a transmitter TX and
the other end (output end) thereof is optically
connected with one end (input end) of dispersion
shifted fiber 500. Further, the other end (output end)
of the dispersion shifted fiber 500 is optically
connected through optical fiber transmission line 10
(single-mode optical fiber) with a receiver RX. In
Fig. 1, the dispersion compensating fiber 100 is
located upstream of the dispersion shifted fiber 500,
but it may be placed downstream of the dispersion
shifted fiber 500. The optical transmission line of
the optical transmission system shown in Fig. 1 may be
a two-way-communicable optical transmission network.
Further, Fig. 2 shows another optical transmission
system including the dispersion compensating fiber
according to the present invention, wherein an optical
fiber amplifier 600 is placed in the optical
transmission line. Particularly, an optical fiber for
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amplification 610 (at least the core region of which is
doped with the erbium element) of this optical fiber
amplifier 600 forms a part of the transmission line of
the optical transmission system.
In the optical transmission line of Fig. 2, the
optical fiber one end (input end) of which is optically
connected through the optical fiber transmission line
(single-mode optical fiber) with the transmitter TX
can be made in the same configuration as the optical
10 transmission line of the structure shown in Fig. 1
wherein the dispersion compensating fiber 100 according
to the present invention is cascade-connected with the
dispersion shifted fiber 500. On the other hand, an
optical isolator 800 is positioned between the other
end (output end) of this optical fiber transmission
line 700 and one end (input end) of the above optical
fiber amplifier 600 optically connected therewith, and
prevents the exciting light for exciting the erbium
element in the optical fiber 610 of the optical fiber
amplifier 600 from propagating in the optical
transmission line. The other end (output end) of this
optical fiber amplifier 600 is optically connected
through the optical fiber transmission line 10 (single-
mode optical fiber) with the receiver RX. There is no
specific restriction on the locations of the above
optical fiber transmission line 700 and optical fiber
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amplifier 600 and the optical transmission line in the
optical transmission system may be of the two-way
optically communicable configuration.
The optical fiber amplifier 600 disposed in the
optical transmission line of the optical transmission
system as described has the optical fiber 610 at least
the core region is doped with the erbium element, the
excitation light source 640 for outputting the exciting
light for exciting the erbium element in this optical
fiber 610, to the optical fiber 610, and the optical
coupler 620 for optically coupling the excitation light
source 640 with the optical fiber 610. In Fig. 2
reference numeral 630 designates an anti-reflection
terminal. The length of the optical fiber 610 of this
optical fiber amplifier 600 is sufficiently shorter
than the length of the whole optical transmission line
so that contribution of the chromatic dispersion and
dispersion slope thereof to the whole optical
transmission line is negligible.
Further, in the optical transmission system shown
in Fig. 2, the optical fiber 610 of the above optical
fiber amplifier 600 can be constructed of the
dispersion compensating fiber 100 according to the
present invention. Specifically, when the erbium
element is added in the core region of the dispersion
compensating fiber 100 according to the present
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invention, the dispersion compensating fiber 100
functions as an optical fiber 610. In this
configuration, the optical fiber transmission line 700
includes only the dispersion shifted fiber 500
excluding the dispersion compensating fiber 100.
Next described is compensation for the chromatic
dispersion and dispersion slope of the dispersion
compensating fiber according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a graph for explaining compensation for the
chromatic dispersion and compensation for the
dispersion slope by the dispersion compensating fiber
according to the present invention. In this graph, the
abscissa represents the wavelength (in units of nm) of
signal light and the ordinate the chromatic dispersion
(in units of ps/km/nm).
In the graph, a curve indicated by symbol DCF
represents chromatic dispersion characteristics of the
dispersion compensating fiber according to the present
invention (the dispersion compensating fiber will be
referred to as DCF). In the dispersion compensating
fiber DCF according to the present invention, as
described above, the chromatic dispersion in the 1.55
pm band is set in the range of -40 to 0 ps/km/nm and
the dispersion slope in the range of -0.5 to -0.1
ps/km/nm2.
In the graph a curve represented by symbol DSF-1
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indicates chromatic dispersion characteristics of the
dispersion shifted fiber (the dispersion shifted fiber
will be referred to as DSF-1). In this dispersion
shifted fiber DSF-1, the structural dispersion is
designed properly so that the chromatic dispersion is
zero near the wavelength 1.5 pm and so that the
dispersion slope is positive in the 1.55 pm band. This
dispersion shifted fiber DSF-1 has, for example, the
chromatic dispersion of 3 ps/km/nm and the dispersion
slope of 0.065 ps/km/nmz at the wavelength 1.55 pm.
With the optical transmission line in which the
dispersion compensating fiber DCF according to the
present invention and the dispersion shifted fiber DSF-
1 are cascade-connected at an appropriate ratio of
respective lengths (the chromatic dispersion
characteristics of the whole of this optical
transmission line are indicated by a curve represented
by "DCF + DSF-1" in the graph), the total chromatic
dispersion is almost zero and the total dispersion
slope is within the range of -0.02 to +0.05 ps/km/nm2
and thus almost flat. In this way, the absolute values
of respective chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope
of the whole optical transmission line become smaller
than those of the chromatic dispersion and dispersion
slope of either one of the dispersion compensating
fiber DCF and the dispersion shifted fiber DSF-1.
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Namely, the both chromatic dispersion and dispersion
slope of the dispersion shifted fiber DSF-1 are
effectively compensated for by the dispersion
compensating fiber DCF in the 1.55 pm band.
As for each of the transmission loss and
polarization mode dispersion (PMD) of the whole optical
transmission line where the dispersion compensating
fiber DCF according to the present invention is
connected with the above dispersion shifted fiber DSF-
1, no problem will arise in carrying out long-distance
and high-bit-rate optical communication. As for each
of the mode field diameter (MFD), cut-off wavelength,
and bending loss, each should be evaluated for either
one of the dispersion compensating fiber DCF according
to the present invention and the above dispersion
shifted fiber DSF-1 singly, but they will raise no
problem in carrying out long-distance and high-bit-rate
optical communication even in the optical transmission
line wherein they are cascade-connected with each
other. Accordingly, the chromatic dispersion is
improved in for each signal light component in the 1.55
pm band even in communication by the WDM method, and
the other characteristic values raise no problem in
carrying out optical communication, thus enabling
longer-distance and higher-bit-rate optical
communication.
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In contrast with it, a curve represented by symbol
DSF-2 in the graph shows chromatic dispersion
characteristics of a dispersion shifted fiber the
chromatic dispersion of which is zero near the
wavelength 1.6 pm (this dispersion shifted fiber will
be referred to as DSF-2). In the optical transmission
line wherein this dispersion shifted fiber DSF-2 is
cascade-connected with the dispersion compensating
fiber DCF according to the present invention (the
chromatic dispersion characteristics of this entire
optical transmission line are indicated by a curve
represented by "DCF + DSF-2" in the graph), the overall
chromatic dispersion slope is almost flat in the 1.55
pm band, but the overall chromatic dispersion is
negative and the absolute values thereof are great.
(First Embodiment)
Fig. 4 is a drawing to show the cross-sectional
structure and index profile of the first embodiment
(having the double cladding structure) of the
dispersion compensating fiber according to the present
invention.
As shown in this Fig. 4, the dispersion
compensating fiber 100a (first embodiment) having the
double cladding structure is a single-mode optical
fiber the main ingredient of which is silica glass,
which has a core region 110 having predetermined
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refractive indices, an inside cladding region 111 being
a glass region provided on the periphery of the core
region 110 and having a lower refractive index than the
core region 110, and an outside cladding region 112
provided on the periphery of the inside cladding region
111 and having a higher refractive index than the
inside cladding region 111 and a lower refractive index
than the core region 110.
A ratio Ra (= 2a/2b) of the outer diameter 2a of
the core region 110 to the outer diameter 2b of the
inside cladding region 111 is not less than 0.3 and not
more than 0.5 and the outer diameter of the core region
is not less than 3.5 pm and not more than 6.0 pm. A
relative refractive index difference A+ between the
outside cladding region 112 and a portion with the
maximum refractive index in the core region 110 is not
less than 0.6 % and not more than 1.4 % and a relative
refractive index difference 0' between the outside
cladding region 112 and a portion having the minimum
refractive index in the inside cladding region 111 is
not less than 0.25 % and not more than 0.65 %.
The abscissa of the index profile 200a shown in
Fig. 4 corresponds to positions on the line Ll in the
cross section (the plane normal to the traveling
direction of signal light propagating) of the
dispersion compensating fiber 100a. Further, in this
26
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index profile 200a, region 210 corresponds to the
refractive index (ncor ) at each portion on the line Li
of the above core region 110, region 220 to the
refractive index (n~ladl) at each portion on the line L1
of the above inside cladding 111, and region 230 to the
refractive index ( nclad2 ) at each portion on the line L1
of the above outside cladding region 112. In this
embodiment the radial index profile of the core region
110 is of the graded-index type, and the refractive
index of the inside cladding region 111 is smaller than
those of the other glass regions, so that depressions A
are formed in the index profile 200a of the dispersion
compensating fiber 100a. Particularly, the index
profile provided with such depressions A is called as a
depressed cladding type profile.
The relative refractive index differences A in this
embodiment are defined as follows.
( ncor - nclad2 ) /nclad2
( ncled2 - ncladl ) /nclad2
ncore: maximum refractive index of the core region
ncladl: minimum refractive index of the inside
cladding region
nclad2: refractive index of the outside cladding
region
Therefore, each of the parameters in this first
embodiment (double cladding structure) is determined as
27
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follows.
0+ = 0.6 to 1.4 % (1)
A- = 0.25 to 0.65 % (2)
2a = 3.5 to 6.0 pm (3)
Ra = 0.3 to 0.5 (4)
In this specification the relative refractive index
differences between the glass regions are indicated in
percentages.
The relative refractive index differences as
represented by above Eq. (1) and Eq. (2) can be
realized in the case of the optical fiber the main
ingredient of which is silica glass, for example, by
the core region 110 doped with the germanium element
(Ge) being an index increasing material and the inside
cladding region 110 doped with the fluorine element (F)
being an index decreasing material. The outside
cladding region 112 may also contain the fluorine
element. The dispersion compensating fiber 100a of
this first embodiment is fabricated easily, for
example, by the VAD (Vapor-phase Axial Deposition)
process. Since the specified tolerances of the above
parameters are relatively wide, fabrication is also
easy in this respect.
(Second Embodiment)
Fig. 5 is a drawing to show the cross-sectional
structure and index profile of the second embodiment
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(having the triple cladding structure) of the
dispersion compensating fiber according to the present
invention.
As shown in this Fig. 5, the dispersion
compensating fiber 100b (the second embodiment) having
the triple cladding structure is a single-mode optical
fiber the main ingredient of which is silica glass,
which comprises a core region 120 having predetermined
refractive indices, an inside cladding region 121 being
a glass region provided on the periphery of the core
region 120 and having a lower refractive index than the
core region 120, an intermediate cladding region 122
provided on the periphery of the inside cladding region
121 and having a higher refractive index than the
inside cladding region 121 and a lower refractive index
than the core region 120, and an outside cladding
region 123 provided on the periphery of the
intermediate cladding region 122 and having a
refractive index lower than the intermediate cladding
region 122 and higher than the inside cladding region
121.
The ratio Ra (= 2a/2b) of the outer diameter 2a of
the core region 120 to the outer diameter 2b of the
inside cladding region 121 and the outer diameter of
the core region 120 are preferably set in wider ranges
than those of the first embodiment described above (Ra
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= 0.3 to 0.5; 2a = 3.5 pm to 6.0 pm). Thus, the outer
diameter of the core region is not less than 3.5 pm and
not more than 6.0 pm. The relative refractive index
difference a' between the outside cladding region 123
and the portion with the maximum refractive index in
the core region 120 is not less than 0.6 % and not more
than 1.4 % and the relative refractive index difference
A' between the outside cladding region 123 and the
portion having the minimum refractive index in the
inside cladding region 121 is not less than 0.25 % and
not more than 0.65 %, which are the same as those in
the first embodiment described above.
The abscissa of the index profile 300a shown in
Fig. 5 corresponds to each position on the line L2 in
the cross section (the plane normal to the traveling
direction of signal light propagating) of the
dispersion compensating fiber 100b. Further, in this
index profile 300a, region 310 corresponds to the
refractive index (ncore) at each portion on the line L2
of the above core region 120, region 320 to the
refractive index (neiaal) at each portion on the line L2
of the above inside cladding 121, region 330 to the
refractive index (nclaaz) at each portion on the line L2
of the above intermediate cladding region 122, and
region 340 to the refractive index (nclad3) at each
portion on the line L2 of the above outside cladding
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region 123. In this embodiment the radial index
profile of the core region 120 is of the graded-index
type, and the refractive index of the inside cladding
region 121 is lower than those of the other glass
regions, so that depressions A are formed in the index
profile 300a of the dispersion compensating fiber 100b.
Particularly, the index profile provided with such
depressions A is called a depressed cladding type
profile.
The relative refractive index differences A in this
embodiment are defined as follows.
A+ _ (ncore - nclad3 ) /nclad3
0 = (nclad3 ncladl ) Inclad3
Or (nclad2 - nclad3 ) Inclad3
ncore: maximum refractive index of the core region
ncladl: minimum refractive index of the inside
cladding region
nclad2: maximum refractive index of the intermediate
cladding region
nclad3: refractive index of the outside cladding
region
Therefore, in this second embodiment (the triple
cladding structure), the relative refractive index
difference between the outside cladding region 123 and
the portion having the maximum refractive index in the
intermediate cladding region 122 is given as follows.
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6r = 0.2 to 0.5 % (5)
The other relative refractive index differences o',
0' are determined in the same ranges as those in the
first embodiment (the double cladding structure)
described above and the ranges of the outer diameter 2a
of the core region 120 and the outer diameter ratio Ra
are broader than those in the first embodiment. In
this specification the relative refractive index
differences between the glass regions are indicated in
percentages.
The index profile 300a as shown in Fig. 5 can be
realized by the core region 120 and intermediate
cladding region 122 doped with the germanium element
being an index increasing material and the inside
cladding region 121 doped with the fluorine element
being an index decreasing material. The outside
cladding region 123 may also contain the fluorine
element.
(Third Embodiment)
Fig. 6 is a drawing to show the cross-sectional
structure and index profile of the third embodiment
(having the triple cladding structure) of the
dispersion compensating fiber according to the present
invention. This third embodiment is different from the
second embodiment described above in that the radial
index profile of the intermediate cladding region is of
32
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the graded-index type (whereas the radial index profile
of the intermediate cladding region in the second
embodiment was of the step-index type).
As shown in this Fig. 6, the dispersion
compensating fiber 100c (the third embodiment) having
the triple cladding structure is a single-mode optical
fiber the mean ingredient of which is silica glass,
which has the structure similar to that of the second
embodiment described above. The dispersion
compensating fiber 100c has a core region 130 having
predetermined refractive indices, an inside cladding
region 131 being a glass region provided on the
periphery of the core region 130 and having a lower
refractive index than the core region 130, an
intermediate cladding region 132 provided on the
periphery of the inside cladding region 131 and having
higher refractive indices than the inside cladding
region 131, and an outside cladding region 133 provided
on the periphery of the intermediate cladding region
132 and having a refractive index lower than the
intermediate cladding region 132 and higher than the
inside cladding region 131.
The abscissa of the index profile 400a shown in
Fig. 6 corresponds to each position on the line L3 in
the cross section (the plane normal to the traveling
direction of signal light propagating) of the
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dispersion compensating fiber 100c. Further, in this
index profile 400a, region 410 corresponds to the
refractive index (ncox.) at each portion on the line L3
of the above core region 130, region 420 to the
refractive index (nclaal) at each portion on the line L3
of the above inside cladding 131, region 430 to the
refractive index (n,iAa2) at each portion on the line L3
of the above intermediate cladding region 122, and
region 440 to the refractive index ( ncl,a3 ) at each
portion on the line L3 of the above outside cladding
region 133. In this embodiment the radial index
profile of the core region 130 is of the graded-index
type, and the refractive index of the inside cladding
region 131 is lower than those of the other glass
regions, so that depressions A are formed in the index
profile 400a of the dispersion compensating fiber 100c.
Particularly, the index profile provided with such
depressions A is called a depressed cladding type
prof ile .
The relative refractive index differences A', 0-,
and Ar between the glass regions, and definition and
numerical values of the other parameters Ra, 2a are the
same as those in the second embodiment described above.
The index profiles 200a to 400a illustrated so far
in Fig. 4 to Fig. 6 are examples of index profile for
the dispersion compensating fiber according to the
34
CA 02413458 2003-01-07
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present invention, and, without having to be limited to
these, the index profile of the dispersion compensating
fiber may be either one of index profiles configured in
the shapes, for example, shown in Fig. 7 to Fig. 9.
Specifically, Fig. 7 is a drawing to show
modifications of the index profile 200a (the first
embodiment) of Fig. 4. The index profile shown at the
left upper corner in the drawing is the index profile
200a of Fig. 4. The index profile 200b has a drop of
index in the central portion of the core region 110 in
the index profile 200a of Fig. 4, which is said to be
easier to occur in fabrication by the MCVD (Modified
Chemical Vapor Deposition) process. The index profile
200c is a modification in which the radial indices of
the core region 110 in the index profile 200a of Fig. 4
are equalized to be of the step-index type.
Further, the index profiles 200d to 200f correspond
to those 200a to 200c, respectively, described above.
In the index profiles 200d to 200f the radial indices
in the inside cladding region 111 are not constant, but
are decreasing gradually from the center to the
periphery. The index profiles 200g to 200i correspond
to those 200a to 200c, respectively, described above.
In the index profiles 200g to 200i the radial indices
in the inside cladding region 111 are not constant, but
are decreasing once and increasing again from the
CA 02413458 2003-01-07
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center to the periphery. The radial configurations of
these index profiles in the inside cladding region 111
are those easy to appear in practical fabrication.
Dispersion compensating fibers having these index
profiles 200b to 200i have characteristics comparable
to those of the dispersion compensating fiber having
the index profile 200a shown in Fig. 4.
Further, Fig. 8 is a drawing to show modifications
of the index profile 300a (the second embodiment) shown
in Fig. 5. The index profile at the left upper corner
in the drawing is the index profile 300a of Fig. 5.
The index profile 300b has a drop of index in the
central portion of the core region 120 in the index
profile 300a of Fig. 5. The index profile 300c is a
modification in which the radial indices of the core
region 120 in the index profile 300a of Fig. 5 are
equalized to be of the step-index type.
The index profiles 300d to 300f correspond to the
index profiles 300a to 300c, respectively, described
above. In the index profiles 300d to 300f the radial
indices of the inside cladding region 121 are not
constant, but are decreasing gradually from the center
to the periphery. The index profiles 300g to 300i
correspond to the index profiles 300a to 300c,
respectively, described above. In the index profiles
300g to 300i the radial indices of the inside cladding
36
CA 02413458 2003-01-07
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region 121 are not constant, but are decreasing once
and increasing again from the center to the periphery.
Dispersion compensating fibers having these index
profiles 300b to 300i have characteristics comparable
to those of the dispersion compensating fiber having
the index profile 300a shown in Fig. 5.
Next, Fig. 9 is a drawing to show modifications of
the index profile 400a (the third embodiment) of Fig.
6. The index profile at the left upper corner in the
drawing is the same as the index profile 400a of Fig.
6. The index profile 400b has a drop of index in the
central portion of the core region 130 in the index
profile 400a of Fig. 6. The index profile 400c is a
modification of the index profile 400a of Fig. 6, in
which the radial indices in the core region 130 are
equalized to be of the step-index type.
Further, the index profiles 400d to 400f correspond
to the index profiles 400a to 400c, respectively,
described above. In the index profiles 400d to 400f
the radial indices of the inside cladding region 131
are not constant, but are decreasing gradually from the
center to the periphery. The index profiles 400g to
400i correspond to the index profiles 400a to 400c,
respectively, described above. In the index profiles
400g to 400i the radial indices of the inside cladding
region 131 are not constant, but are decreasing once
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CA 02413458 2003-01-07
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and increasing again from the center to the periphery.
Dispersion compensating fibers having these index
profiles 400b to 400i have characteristics comparable
to those of the dispersion compensating fiber having
the index profile 400a shown in Fig. 6.
Next described are experiment results of simulation
conducted about characteristics of the dispersion
compensating fiber having the index profile 200a shown
in Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a table to show the simulation
results. Eleven conditions were set as to the four
parameters A*, o-, 2a, and Ra (= 2a/2b) and
characteristic values of optical fibers were attained.
Fibers (samples) prepared corresponding to the
respective conditions are denoted by No. 1 to No. 11.
Obtained for each of samples (optical fibers) No. 1
to No. 11 with input of the light of the wavelength
1.55 pm by simulation were the chromatic dispersion
(indicated by Disp@1550 in the table and in units of
ps/km/nm), the dispersion slope (indicated by
Slope@1550 in the table and in units of ps/km/nm2), the
total dispersion slope of the whole optical
transmission line composed of the dispersion shifted
fiber being a main compensated object and either one of
the above-stated optical fibers No. 1 to No. 11
cascade-connected (indicated by Total Slope@1550 in the
table and in units of ps/km/nm2), the transmission loss
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(indicated by Loss@1550 in the table and in units of
dB/km), the polarization mode dispersion (indicated by
PMD in the table and in units of ps=km'l/Z), the cut-off
wavelength in the reference length of 2 m (indicated by
Cut-Off in the table and in units of pm), and the
bending loss at the diameter of 20 mm (indicated by
Bend Loss in the table and in units of dB/m).
The dispersion shifted fiber assumed to be a
compensated object in the simulation was one in which
the chromatic dispersion at the wavelength 1.50 pm was
zero and the chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope
at the wavelength 1.55 pm were 3 ps/km/nm and 0.065
ps/km/nm2, respectively. The total dispersion slope of
the whole optical transmission line comprised of either
dispersion compensating fiber of No. 1 to No. 11
described above and the above dispersion shifted fiber
is a value obtained when this dispersion shifted fiber
and either one of the fibers No. 1 to No. 11 are
cascade-connected at a predetermined ratio of lengths
so as to make the total chromatic dispersion zero at
1.55 pm.
As seen from the table of Fig. 10, in the case of
fiber No. 9, the outer diameter 2a of the core region
does not satisfy condition (3). Therefore, it can not
be realized as a dispersion compensating fiber
according to the present invention. Further neither of
39
CA 02413458 2003-01-07
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the fibers No. 7 and No. 8 is desirable to be applied
to the optical transmission line containing the above
compensated object.
However, since the other samples (fibers No. 1 to
No. 6, fiber No. 10, and fiber No. 11) satisfy the all
conditions of (1) to (4), each of these samples can be
realized as a dispersion compensating fiber according
to the present invention. Further, the total
dispersion slope of the whole optical transmission line
where either one of these samples is cascade-connected
with the above dispersion shifted fiber is between -
0.02 and 0.05 ps/km/nm2, and thus is said to be almost
flat. Accordingly, in carrying out optical
communication with the wavelength-multiplexing signal
light (containing a plurality of wavelengths) by the
WDM method in the 1.55 pm band, the dispersion slope is
sufficiently decreased in the wavelength region of each
signal light component, thus enabling long-distance and
high-bit-rate optical communication.
Among others, particularly, fibers No. 1 to No. 3
are more suitable for compensating for the chromatic
dispersion and dispersion slope of each signal light
component occurring in the dispersion shifted fiber,
because the chromatic dispersion is in the range of -20
to -5 ps/km/nm, the dispersion slope is in the range of
-0.4 to -0.13 ps/km/nm2, and the total dispersion slope
CA 02413458 2003-01-07
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of the optical transmission line in the cascade
connection with the dispersion shifted fiber is 0.01 to
0.02 ps/km/nmz. Thus, they can be used more suitably
for communication by the WDM method.
In addition, the inventors also conducted similar
simulation as to the various characteristics of the
dispersion compensating fibers (the triple cladding
structure) having the index profile 300a shown in Fig.
5. Fig. 11 is a table to show the simulation results.
Three conditions were set as to the five parameters A+,
0-, Or, 2a, and Ra (= 2a/2b) and characteristic values
of optical fibers were attained. Fibers (samples)
prepared corresponding to the respective conditions are
denoted by No. 12 to No. 14, respectively.
The other parameters are the same as in the case of
the double cladding structure described above. The
dispersion shifted fiber (object to be compensated)
assumed was also the same as the aforementioned fiber.
As also seen from this table of Fig. 11, each
sample (optical fiber) of No. 12 to No. 14 is more
suitable for compensating for the chromatic dispersion
and dispersion slope of each signal light component
occurring in the dispersion shifted fiber, because the
chromatic dispersion is in the range of -30 to -5
ps/km/nm, the dispersion slope is in the range of -0.39
to -0.06 ps/km/nm2, and the total dispersion slope of
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CA 02413458 2003-01-07
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the optical transmission line in cascade connection
with the dispersion shifted fiber is 0.03 ps/km/nmZ.
Therefore, they may be used more suitably for
communication by the WDM method.
The optical transmission system to which the
dispersion compensating fiber 100 according to the
present invention is applied can be constructed not
only in such a configuration that the dispersion
compensating fiber 100 and dispersion shifted fiber 500
are cascade-connected, but also in such a configuration
that the optical fiber amplifier 600 is further
cascade-connected therewith, for example, as shown in
Fig. 2. The dispersion compensating fiber 100
according to the present invention, the dispersion
shifted fiber 500 (which, together with the dispersion
compensating fiber 100, constitutes the optical fiber
transmission line 700), and the optical fiber amplifier
700 may be cascade-connected in any order. The optical
fiber amplifier (EDFA: Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier),
utilizing the optical fiber (EDF: Erbium Doped Fiber)
doped with a rare-earth element (for example, Er
element) as the optical fiber 610 of the optical fiber
amplifier 600, is suitably applicable to optical
amplification of wavelength-multiplexing signal light
in the 1.55 pm wavelength band. The lengths of the
respective dispersion compensating*fiber 100 and
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dispersion shifted fiber 500, and the location, length
and amplification factor of the optical fiber amplifier
600 are determined optimally based on the chromatic
dispersion and transmission loss of each of the
dispersion compensating fiber 100 and dispersion
shifted fiber 500. The above configuration can
effectively improve the optical transmission line in
the total chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope in
the optical fiber transmission system (or can decrease
them to near zero) and is expected to decrease the
transmission loss sufficiently. Accordingly, this
configuration also permits large-bit signal light to be
transmitted in a long-distance optical transmission
line with little loss.
The core region of the dispersion compensating
fiber itself according to the present invention may be
doped with the Er element. In this case, population
inversion occurs when the exciting light of the
wavelength 1.48 pm from the excitation light source 640
is made to propagate through the optical coupler 620 in
the dispersion compensating fiber, which amplifies the
signal light propagating in the dispersion compensating
fiber. Namely, this dispersion compensating fiber does
not only compensate for the chromatic dispersion and
dispersion slope, but also acts as an optical fiber for
amlification. Therefore, the optical fiber amplifier
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600 may be constructed by using this Er-doped
dispersion compensating fiber as an optical fiber for
amplification and further incorporating therewith the
excitation light source 640 for outputting the exciting
light, the optical coupler for guiding the exciting
light into the dispersion compensating fiber, the
optical isolator 800 for transmitting light (signal
light, exciting light, and spontaneously emitted light)
only in the propagating direction of signal light, a
filter for transmitting only the signal light while
interrupting the exciting light and spontaneously
emitted light, and the like. In this case, the
chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope of the
dispersion shifted fiber are compensated for by the
dispersion compensating fiber and the transmission loss
occurring in the dispersion shifted fiber can be
canceled out by the optical amplifying action in the
dispersion compensating fiber.
Further, the signal light may be amplified
utilizing the Raman amplification. Specifically, the
exciting light having a wavelength different from the
wavelength of signal light but close to that wavelength
value and having sufficiently large quantity of light
is made to propagate through the optical coupler 620 in
the dispersion compensating fiber, thereby amplifying
the signal light by the Raman effect. Also in this
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case, the chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope of
the dispersion shifted fiber are compensated for by the
dispersion compensating fiber while the transmission
loss appearing in the dispersion shifted fiber can be
canceled out by the optical amplifying action in the
dispersion compensating fiber.
As detailed above, the characteristics of the
dispersion compensating fiber according to the present
invention in the 1.55 pm wavelength band are such that
the chromatic dispersion is not less than -40 ps/km/nm
and not more than 0 ps/km/nm, the dispersion slope is
not less than -0.5 ps/km/nm2 and not more than -0.1
ps/km/nm2, the transmission loss is not less than 0.5
dB/km, the polarization mode dispersion is not more
than 0.7 ps=km-1/2, the mode field diameter is not less
than 4.5 pm and not more than 6.5 pm, the cut-off
wavelength is not less than 0.7 pm and not more than
1.7 pm, and the bending loss at the diameter of 20 mm
is not more than 100 dB/m (particularly preferably,
such that the chromatic dispersion is not less than -20
ps/km/nm and not more than -5 ps/km/nm and the
dispersion slope is not less than -0.4 ps/km/niin2 and not
more than -0.13 ps/km/nm2).
When this dispersion compensating fiber and another
optical fiber (particularly, a dispersion shifted fiber
or an optical transmission line including the
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dispersion shifted fiber) are optically connected at a
predetermined ratio of their lengths, the total
chromatic dispersion of optical transmission line can
be decreased effectively in the 1.55 pm wavelength band
and the total dispersion slope can also be improved in.
Long-distance and high-bit-rate optical communication
is made possible by these characteristics and the
conditions of the respective transmission loss,
polarization mode dispersion, mode field diameter, cut-
off wavelength, and bending loss. Particularly, since
the total chromatic dispersion of optical transmission
line is improved in at the wavelength of each component
of the wavelength-multiplexing signal light used in
optical communication by the WDM method, longer-
distance and higher-bit-rate optical communication
becomes possible.
The dispersion compensating fiber according to the
present invention may have either the double cladding
structure or the triple cladding structure and either
one of the structures can be realized by satisfying the
predetermined parameter conditions (the dimensional
ratio, and the relative refractive index differences
between the glass regions). In the case of the
dispersion compensating fiber the main ingredient of
which is silica glass, the predetermined relative
refractive index differences can be achieved by
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selectively doping each glass region with germanium or
fluorine. Since the specified tolerances of the
parameters are wide, fabrication is easy. Even if
variation takes place in each parameter in fabrication,
no problem will arise in carrying out the long-distance
and high-bit-rate optical communication as long as it
is within the specified tolerances.
Further, it is also possible to realize the
configuration in which the core region of the
dispersion compensating fiber is doped with the erbium
element. Namely, when the exciting light is made to
propagate in the dispersion compensating fiber, the
signal light can also be amplified, while the chromatic
dispersion and dispersion slope are compensated for.
In the optical transmission system according to the
present invention, the dispersion compensating fiber
according to the present invention is optically
connected with another optical fiber (particularly, the
dispersion shifted fiber) and the total dispersion
slope of optical transmission line in the 1.55 pm band
is set to be not less than -0.02 ps/km/nm2 and not more
than 0.05 ps/km/nm2. Therefore, this optical
transmission system enables long-distance and high-bit-
rate optical communication, and particularly, in
carrying out the optical communication using plural
wavelengths by the WDM method, it enables longer-
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CA 02413458 2003-01-07
distance and higher-bit-rate optical communication.
Further, when the erbium-doped fiber is used as the
dispersion compensating fiber according to the present
invention, the optical transmission line enables long-
distance, high-bit-rate, and low-loss optical
communication.
From the invention thus described, it will be
obvious that the invention may be varied in many ways.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure
from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all
such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled
in the art are intended for inclusion within the scope
of the following claims.
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