Method and apparatus for measuring chromatic dispersion coefficient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

0001The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the chromatic dispersion coefficient, of particularly that of an optical fiber.

2. Description of the Prior Art

0002Advances in performance of optical fibers have led to the realization of actual long-distance fiber optical communication systems. A fiber optical communication system, particularly one using a single mode optical fiber for the optical transmission line, has the advantage of extremely small expansion of the pulse width during transmission of the pulses from the transmitter side to the receiver side. Accordingly, such a system is suitable for the transmission of high frequency data, i.e., large amounts of data. With a transmitter using a semiconductor laser as a light source, however, the emission spectrum distribution may be considerably wide and jitter of the pulses may occcur. In such a case, with a transmission distance over 50 km, reliable data transmission at a high transmission speed of over 400 Mb/s cannot be ensured since both the expansion of the pulse width and variations in the optical pulses, caused by so-called "chromatic dispersion", reach non-neglible levels. That is, inter symbol interference and mode dispersion noise increase significantly.

0003"Chromatic dispersion" specifically refers to the dispersion of the optical pulse distribution at the receiver side and is caused by the inevitale differences in arrival times of various optical pulses at the receiver side in accordance with their, respective wavelengths λ₁, λ₂, k₃ and so on. For example, when a semiconductor laser is used as the light source, three or four wavelengths of light are generated therefrom.

0004In view of the above, it is very important in the design and construction of a fiber optical communication system to determine the degree of chromatic dispersion of the optical fiber, i.e., the chromatic dispersion coeffeicient. The chromatic dispersion coefficient determines the quality of the optical fiber transmission line and is used as a standard to determine the data transmission capability.

0005Various types of systems for measuring the chromatic dispersion coefficient are knwon, for example, a measuring system utilizing the Raman effect and a measuring system operated under a frequency sweep method. Each of the prior art measuring systems have their own shortcomings, however.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0006It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for measuring the chromatic dispersion coefficient without the shortcomings of the prior art measuring systems.

0007The above object is attained by a measuring system using an optical transmitter, an optical spectrum analyzing part receiving an input optical signal branched from the optical tramsitter, an optical receiver for connecting with, via an optical fiber to be measured, the optical transmitter, and a data processing part operative to produce a chromatic dispersion coefficient to be measured, the method comparing a calculated baseband characteristic, derived from data concerning th optical transmitter and the optical spectrum analyzing part with an actual baseband characteristic obtained in the optical receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0008The present invention will be more apparent from the ensuring description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

0009<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Fig. 1 is a general view of an example of a prior art apparatus for measuring the chromatic dispersion coefficient;</li><li>Fig. 2 is a general veiw of an example of an apparatus for measuring the chromatic dispersion coefficient according to the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a graph of a light source emission spectrum distribution in terms of wavelength and amplitude a_i;</li><li>Fig. 4 is a graph of a chromatic dispersion characteristic in terms of wavelength X and chromatic dipersion characteristics;</li><li>Fig. 5 is s vector diagram of a receiving optical signal A expressed by using complex notation in amplitude;</li><li>Fig. 6A is a graph of a first example of both the measured baseband characteristic and calculated baseband characteristic;</li><li>Fig. 6B depicts a distribution of a light source spectrum which is used for obtaining the graph shown in Fig. 6A;</li><li>Fig. 7A is a graph of a second example of both the measured baseband characteristic and calculated baseband characteristic;</li><li>Fig. 7B depicts a distribution of a light source spectrum which is used for obtaining the graph shown in Fig. 7A;</li><li>Fig. 8 is a graph for schematically explaining a calculation algorithm of a least square approximation procedure;</li><li>Fig. 9 is a general block diagram of a practical apparatus for measuring the chromatic dispersion coefficient according to the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 10 is a general block diagram of an actually built apparatus based on the apparatus shown in Fig. 9;</li><li>Fig. 11A is a graph of a third example of both the measured baseband characteristic and calculated baseband characteristic;</li><li>Fig. 11B depicts a distribution of a light source spectrum which is used for obtaining the graph shown in Fig. 11A;</li><li>Fig. 12 is a graph of an example representing the actual relationship between the chromatic dispersion coefficient M and the wavelength X; and</li><li>Fig. 13A and 13B are flow charts of operations achieved in the chromatic dispersion coefficient measuring apparatus shown in Fig. 10.</li></ul>

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0010Before describing the preferred embodiments, a discussion will be made of the prior art measuring system for reference purposes.

0011The chromatic dispersion coefficient M may be generally expressed by the folliwng equation:<maths id="math0001" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0001.tif" /></maths>where L denotes a length in km of an optical fiber transmission line, Δλ a difference between wavelengths in mm and corresponding to the aforesaid differences in wavelengths, i.e., |λ₁ - λ₂|, |λ₂ - λ₃|, and so on, and AT the difference in arrival times in ps at the receiver side between each two signals having the wavelengths. The unit of M is ps/km/nm. That is, M defines that an arrival time delay of Δτ (ps) per 1 km of the transmission line would be induced if the wavelength λ deviates by 1 nm.

0012Figure 1 is a general view of an example of a prior art apparatus for measuring the chromatic dispersion coefficient. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 14 indicates an optical fiber to be measured for chromatic dipersion coefficient. At the optical input side of the optical fiber 14, a yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser source 11, a short optical fiber 12, and a spectroscope 13 are located. At the optical output side thereof, a measuring apparatus 15 is located. Both the YAG laser source 11 and the optical fiber 12 form, as one body, a fiber Raman laser utilizing the Raman effect, where oscillations of various frequencies take place with the wavelengths of λ₁, λ₂, a3 , and so on. Then, lights having these various wavelengths are selected one by one by means of the spectorscope 13, so that an arrival time t₁ for the light of λ₁, an arrival time t₂ for the light of a₂, and so on are sequentially obtained by means of the measuring apparatus 15. Thus, Δτ and Δλ for defining the above recited equation (1) are actually measured, and, then the chromatic dispersion coefficient M can be obtained with the known value of L.

0013The measuring system of Fig. 1 has the serious shortcoming that it is almost impossible to measure the coefficient when the optical fiber 14 is actually laid. First, it is essential to maintain synchronization between the sending time of the light from the spectroscope 13 and the measuring time for the sent light at the measuring apparatus-15. Accoringly, both ends of the optical fiber 14 must be located close to each other, preferably at the same site. This means the measurement is only effective for inspections of the manufactured optical fiber before shipment from the factory. Second, the fiber Raman laser system (11, 12, 13) is too heavy for operators to carry.

0014Because the coefficient M measured in a pre-shipment inspection differs from that measured in the field, it is meaningless to find the coefficient M in the factory. The difference between the coefficient M measured in the factory and the field results from the difference in stresses applied to the optical fiber laid in the factory and installed the field, the difference in the arrangements of the optical fiber laid in the factory and installed the field.

0015In another prior art measuring system based on the Raman effect, two light source having different wavelengths are used and the difference in arrival times between two optical signals therefrom is obtained by measuring the differences in phase therebetween. It is clear that a single light source is preferable for the measurement in view of cost and easy setting of the measuring system.

0016Another prior art measuring apparatus utilizes the frequency sweep method. There are two types of-this apparatus. The first type assumes that the light source spectrum exhibits a so-called Gaussian distribution. In the system, the following well known equation is used for derivinq M:<maths id="math0002" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0002.tif" /></maths>where, f_6dB denotes a modulation frequency at which the value of the baseband characteristic is reduced by 6 dB, and Δλ_1/2 denotes a wavelength pitch in the light source spectrum with which an amplitude of light is halved with respect to the amplitude observed at the center of the Gaussian distribution, i.e., a half width of the spectrum.

0017This first type of apparatus, however, has the shortcoming of a relatively large error in the measured M. This error is caused by the fact that the spectrum of light from a semiconductor laser does not actually exhibit a Gaussian distribution.

0018The second type of apparatus takes note of the fact that modulation frequencies at which the attenuation reaches almost 0 dB occur periodically, and derives M by the following equation:<maths id="math0003" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0003.tif" /></maths>where f_T denotes a frequency at which the attenuation reaches almost 0 dB again in the high frequency range, and δ_λ an oscillation mode interval (qorresponding to difference in wavelength between two adjacent line spectrums) with which the line spectrums appear periodically.

0019The second type of apparatus, however, has the shortcoming of requiring a very expensive, special measuring instrument which can respond to signals having a high frequency, defined previously as f_T.

0020Figure 2 is a general view of an example of an apparatus for measuring the chromatic dispersion coefficient according to the present invention. In Fig. 2, an oscillator 21 and a selective level meter 24 are connected, via an electro-optic converter (E/O) 22 and an opto-electric converter (O/E) 23, to the ends of the optical fiber 14 to be measured. The oscillator 21 produces an AC signal, such as a sine wave signal, with a variable frequency f. The AC signal modulates the optical output in the E/O 22, which is made of, for example, a semiconductor laser.

0021Now, the term "baseband characteristic" is generally defined as an amplitude response characteristic of received light with respect to a variation of the modulation frequency f, which received light is measured at the optical output side of the optical fiber 14 when an optical signal, which is the transmitted light from the semiconductor laser and directly modulated in amplitude by the oscillator 21, is launched onto the optical input side of the optical fiber 14. To be more specific, of there is a certain optical fiber which has a vector Ṗ_in (t) as an input and a vector Ṗ_out (t) as an output thereof, these vectros can be expressed as follows:<maths id="math0004" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0004.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0005" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0005.tif" /></maths>where w denotes an angular frequency. Since the signal Ṗ_in (t) is input to the optical fiber with the angular frequency w and then the signal Ṗ_out (t) is output therefrom, a transfer function Ḣ (t) of the optical fiber can be expressed, in terms of the above equations (4) and (5), as follows:<maths id="math0006" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0006.tif" /></maths>

0022Thus, the attenuation of the signal having the angular frequency ω can be defined as follows:<maths id="math0007" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0007.tif" /></maths>

0023Generally, the signal attenuation given from the above equation (7) is a function of the angular frequency w and is called the "baseband characteristic". That is, the baseband characteristic of the optical fiber is given by the following expression (8)<maths id="math0008" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0008.tif" /></maths>

0024This can be rewritten as<maths id="math0009" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0009.tif" /></maths>where ω' denotes an arbitrary angular frequency, but ω' ≠ 0. The second term in the above expression represents the optical power loss.

0025According to the present invention, to suppress deterioration of linearity due to the wide variation in the optical power level at the O/E 23, an optical attenuator (ATT) 101 is introduced in the apparatus and level adjustment, i.e., |Ṗ_in|_ω=0 = |Ṗ_out|_ω=0, is achieved thereby in advance. Therefore, the value of the second term in the above expression (9) finally becomes zero.

0026The relationship between a light souce spectrum and the baseband characteristic will be detailed below. The term "light source spectrum" is defined as an optical spectrum of the output light from the E/O 22 of Fig. 2. Considering here an optical emission spectrum distribution of the light source and the chromatic dispersion characteristic, these exhibits graphs as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a graph of a light source emission spectrum distribution in terms of wavelength λ and amplitude a_i. Figure 4 is a graph of a chromatic dispersion characteristic in terms of wavelength X and the chromatic dispersion characteristic. The light source emission spectrum distribution is expressed by a_i(λ_i), where i = 0, +1, +2 ---. The chromatic dispersion coefficient m is approximated to be a constant (m₀) in the range of the light source spectrum, because the expansion of the light source spectrum, in case of a laser diode (LD), is very narrow, e.g., several nm at most.

0027In Fig. 4, the solid line curve 41 exhibits an actually obtained characteristic. From an equation m = m₀, the difference t_i in time delay between an arrival time of a signal consisting of λ₀ and an arrival time of a signal consisting of λ, both at a receiver side, is expressed as follows:<maths id="math0010" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0010.tif" /></maths>where Δλ_i is represented by λ_i -λ₀. A signal having a spectrum intensity of the aforesaid a_i is modulated by the sine wave signal produced from the oscillator 21 at the E/O 22 and transmitted along the optical fiber 14. Then, the transmitted signal reaches the O/E 23 as a received optical signal A. The signal A can be expressed as follows by using the aforesaid angular frequency w(= 2πf):<maths id="math0011" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0011.tif" /></maths>where t_i denotes a delay time of the signal in the i-th spectrum mode. From the above equation (11),<maths id="math0012" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0012.tif" /></maths>is obtained.

0028Figure 5 is a vector diagram of a received optical signal A expressed by using complex notation regarding amplitude. Each vector shown in Fig. 5 is expressed with a signal of wavelength λ₀ and amplitude a₀, as a reference vector. In Fig. 5, the abscissa R represents a real component and the ordinate I an imaginary component.

0029Accordingly, the baseband characteristic of the above recited expression (8) is then expressed as follows:<maths id="math0013" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0013.tif" /></maths>

0030This equation (13) provides a theoretically approximated function. On the other hand, the theoretically approximated function can be expressed as the following equation (14) in relation to the selective level meter 24:<maths id="math0014" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0014.tif" /></maths>

0031As seen from equation (14), the amplitude is taken into consideration as a_i at every oscillation mode, therefore enabling highly accurate measurement never before obtained.

0032In equation (14), the parameters a_i, f, Δλ_i, and L are all known values. The chromatic dispersion coefficient m₀ is unknown. Under these circumstances, on one hand, a measured baseband characteristic is obtained by plotting data produced from the selective level meter, while, on the other hand, a calculated baseband characteristic is obtained through computer simulation by inputting a variety of m₀ to equation (14) sequentially. Specifically, the calculated baseband characteristic can be obtained with the use of a processor 25 shown in Fig. 2. Next, a search is run for the calculated baseband characteristic with a profile most suited to a profile of the measured baseband characteristic. Then, a chromatic dispersion coefficient M to be finally obtained is derived from m, which specifies the thus searched calculated baseband characteristic.

0033Figure 6A is a graph of a first example of the measured baseband characteristic and calculated baseband characteristic. Figure 6B depicts a distribution of a light source spectrum used for obtaining the graph shown in Fig. 6A. Similarly, Figure 7A is a graph of a second example of the measured baseband characteristic and calculated baseband characteristic. Figure 7B depicts a distribution of a light source spectrum which is used for obtaining the graph shown in Fig. 7A.

0034In Fig. 6A (same for Fig. 7A), the abscissa represents a modulaton frequency f (MHz) in logarithmic indication, and the ordinate an attenuation loss (Loss) in dB. The readings of the ordinate correspond to the readings of the selective level meter 24 shown in Fig. 2. In the graph, each small circle (o) indicates the measured data. A curve H represents a curve calculated in accordance with the above recited equation (14) while varying the value m₀ and corresponds to a curve most approximated to the measured data. Accordingly, the value m_O which simulates the curve H, becomes the chromatic dispersion coefficient M to be finally obtained.

0035In Fig. 6B (same for Fig. 7B), the ordinate represents the amplitude a_i and the abscissa the wavelength X. Regarding the wavelength, each graduation defines 1 nm. Therefore, the Δλ_i in Fig. 6B equals about 0.73 x (i - 1) nm and, in Fig. 7B, about 1.43 x (i - 1) nm.

0036Computer simulation is most effective for searching for a desired curve H having a prifle,closest to a profile defined by the measured data displayed in Figs. 6A and 7A. Concretely speaking, the closest curve can be found by, for example, a least square approximation method. That is, a certain value m is searched which will make the value of an appreciation function AF minimum. The appreciation function AF is defined as follows:<maths id="math0015" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0015.tif" /></maths>where F_kdenotes a baseband value (corresponding to the value of Loss in Figs. 6A and 7A) measured at the modulation frequency f_k, N is a number of measuring points, and H(f_k) denotes a calculated value, at that frequency f_k, according to the theoretically approximated function by equation (14). Incidentally, it should be understand that no expensive measuring unit is needed, because the frequency f_k is about 1000 MHz (1 GHz) at most.

0037Figure 8 is a graph for schematically explaining the calculation algorithm of a least square approximation procedure. In Fig. 8, the abscissa represents the chromatic dispersion coefficient m, while the ordinate represents the value of the appreciation function AF given by equation (15). The unit amount for varying the chromatic dispersion coefficient is indicated as Δm. The procedure in Fig. 8 is basically as follows. <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none"><li>(1) If the value of AF under the present value of m is smaller than the value of AF under the preceding value of m, the related calculation is continued under the following value of m; m → m + Δm.</li><li>(2) If the value of AF under the present value of m is larger than the value of AF under the preceding value of m, the related calculaton is continued under the following value of m; m + m - Δm', where Δm' is reduced to Δm/N, where N is an arbitrary coefficient preferably selected to be a value on the order of 2 through 10.</li><li>(₃) If <maths id="math0016" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0016.tif" /></maths> &lt; 10-³ stands, it is considered that the related calculation has converged.</li></ul>

0038Figure 9 is a general block diagram of a practical apparatus for measuring the chromatic dispersion coefficient according to the present invention. The construction of Fig. 2 can actually, as well as practically, be built as shown by Fig. 9. In Fig. 9, an apparatus 90 for measuring the chromatic dispersion coefficient is classified into four parts 91, 92, 93, and 94. The first part 91 is an optical transmitter in which an amplitude-modulation optical signal modulated by an AC signal of frequency f is generated. The amplitude-modulation optical signal being launched onto one end of the optical fiber 14 whose chromatic dispersion coefficient M is to be measured. The second part 92 is an optical receiver for detecting the baseband characteritic of an optical signal radiated from the other end of the optical fiber 14. The third part 93 is an optical spectrum analyzing part in which spectral decomposition is performed with respect to the optical signal supplied from the optical transmitter 91 and then analysis of an optical spectrum is made for the spectrally decomposed optical signal. The fourth part 94 is a data processing part for calculating the chromatic dispersion coefficient M in cooperation with the optical transmitter 91, the optical receiver 92, and the optical spectrum analyzing part 93.

0039As seen from Fig. 9, the optical transmitter 91 contains therein the oscillator 21 and the electro-optic converter (E/O) 22 driven by the oscillator 21, which generates the AC signal of variable frequency f, the value of which is used as a first data Dl. The optical receiver 92 contains therein the opto-electric converter (O/E) 23 for transducing the received optical signal into an electric signal and the selective level meter 24 which is connected to the opto-electric converter (0/E) 23 and detects, from the electric signal, an amplitude level at each frequency f, the value of which amplitude is used as a second data D2. The optical spectrum analyzing part 93 contains therein the spectroscope 13 . for achieving spectral decomposition with respect to the optical signal produced from the optical transmitter 91 and an optical detector 95 which interlocks with the spectroscope 13 to detect both the wavelength and the amplitude, at each oscillation mode, which are used as a third data D3. The data processing part 94 receives the first, second, and third data Dl, D2, and D3 and executes an arithmetic operation therewith so as to calculate the chromatic dispersion coefficient M. The above-mentioned spectroscope 13 functions to extract optical output, at each oscillation mode, corresponding to λ_-2, λ_-1, λ₀ --- in Fig. 3 or to each line spectrum shown in Figs. 6B and 7B. The above-mentioned optical detector 95 functions to detect, at each oscillation mode, the wavelength (a_i) and the amplitude level (a.). Further, the above-mentioned data processing part 94 contains therein the processor 25 (also shown in Fig. 2), a console for control, printers (both not shown), and so on.

0040Figure 10 is a general block diagram of an actually built apparatus based on the apparatus 90 shown in Fig. 9. In the optical transmitter 91, the oscillator 21 is a product of Ando Electric Co., Ltd., referenced as "GET-42P", and the electro-optic converter 22 is an improved version of a product of Ando Electric Co., _Ltd., referenced as AQ-1309. In the optical receiver 92, the optical attenuator (ATT) 101 is a product of Fujitsu Ltd., referenced as "H72M-2016-M001 (variable optical attenuator), an amplifier (AMP) 102 is a product of _B &amp; H Ltd., referenced as AC-3002H, and the selective level meter 24 is a product of Ando Co., Ltd., referenced as "SLM-42 SP". In the optical spectrum analyzing part 9₃, both the spectroscope 13 and,the optical detector 95 shown in Fig. 9 are formed, as an integral structure, with a product of Ando Electric Co., Ltd., referenced as FSM-01 (No. 105), i.e., an optical spectrum analyzer. Both the optical isolator 103 and the optical switch 104 are formed, as an integral structure, with a product of Fujitsu Ltd., referenced as H74M-5208-J003, i.e., a magneto-optic application switch. In the data processing part 94, the processor 25 is a product of Epson Ltd., referenced as HC-20.

0041In Fig. 10, as briefly mentioned earlier, the optical attenuator 101 is used in that, before starting the measurement, it is necessary to determine the frequency characteristic of the measuring apparatus 90 itself so as to compensate, in advance, for the data produced from the selective level meter 24 itself, i.e., to calibrate the apparatus. For this, first the optical transmitter 91 and the optical receiver 92 are optically shorted with each other, while the optical fiber 14 to be measured is left as it is. In this case, a considerably strong optical signal is input to the O/E transducer 23, because the fiber 14 is not yet connected thereto. Therefore, during the calibration, the received optical signal at the O/E transducer 23 must be reduced in optical strength to some degree, because an O/E transducer does not usually exhibit the same linearity for both a strong optical signal and weak optical signal.

0042On the other hand, in the optical transmitter 91, the optical isolator 103 is needed and inserted between the E/O 22 and an optical switch 104. If the semiconductor laser in the E/O transducer 22 were to receive a reflected optical signal from a load, chiefly comprised of the optical fiber 14, some change in the light source spectrum would be induced. Accordingly, this must be prevented by inserting the optical isolator 103 therebetween. The optical switch 104 is turned on or off in accordance with a path switch control,command supplied, via a line 106, from the data processing part 94. During the measurement, when the optical switch 104 is switched to connect with the optical spectrum analyzer 105, the third data D3 is given to the processing part 94. The second data D2 is also transferred, via a line 107, to the processing part 94. The line 107 can be a direct coupling line if the optical receiver 92 is located near the processing part 94. The processing part 94 is preferably located close to both the optical transmitter 91 and the optical spectrum analyzing part 93. Alternatively, if the optical receiver 92 is located far from the processing part 94, the line 107 may be substituted with a public telephone line, so that an operator transmits the data D2 orally or by facsimile.

0043Figure 11A is a graph displaying a third example of both a measured baseband characteristic and calculated baseband characteristic. Figure 11B depicts a distribution of a light source spectrum which is used for obtaining the graph shown in Fig. 11A. The data was measured not by a prototype measuring apparatus, but by an actual measuring apparatus having the arrangement shown in Fig. 10. The optical fiber 14 measured was an unprecedentedly long 48 km and the measuring frequency was several MHz. Thus, the data obtained was substantially the same as that of a commercial fiber optical communication system. The chromatic dispersion coefficient M to be obtained was derived as 2.1, i.e., _M = 2.1 ps/km/nm, from the data of Figs. 11A and 11B. In Fig. 11A, the small circles (o) represent the measured baseband characteristic, while the solid line curve represents the calculated baseband characteristic.

0044Figure 2 is a graph of an example representing the actual relationship between the chromatic dispersion coefficient M and the wavelength λ. The data of Fig. 12 was obtained from an optical fiber having a length of 35 km, a core diameter of 8 µm, a differential specific refraction index of 0.3%, and a cut-off wavelength of 1.28 pm. Although only four data points are plotted (small circles) in the graph of Fig. 12, the solid line curve is believed to accurately reflect the chromatic dispersion coefficient throughout the range of the wavelength.

0045Figures 13A and 13B are flow charts of operations achieved in the chromatic dispersion coefficient measuring apparatus 90 shown in Fig. 10. At step a, optical spectrum analysis is achieved at the optical spectrum analyzing part 93, based on the previously recited equation (14) so that the desired third data D3 is obtained, that is, a_i, f, and Δλ_i are detected. At step b, the actual baseband characteristic is measured so as to obtain the desired second data, i.e,, f_k and F_kdefined by the previously recited equation (15). At step c, the unknown number m₀ is initially determined, which m₀is defined by the previously recited equation (14). Thereafter, the unknown number m₀ is varied and m₁, m₂, and m₃ are sequentially selected so as to determine the calculated baseband characteristic (refer to the solid line curve in Fig. llA) having a profile which closest to a profile of the measured actual baseband characteristic. Then, the number m₂ which specifies the thus determined baseband characteristic is determined to obtain the desired chromatic dispersion coefficient M, i.e., m₂+ M (refer to step p in Fig. 13B). It should be understood, however, that the procedure for searching M from m₁, m₂, and m₃ is not limited to the manner as mentioned above with reference to the figures. For example, the calculated baseband characteristic closest to the actual baseband characteristic can also be obtained through selection from a plurality of calculated baseband characteristics determined corresponding to various provisional chromatic dispersion coefficients.

0046At step d, m₁, m₂, and m₃ are defined to be ml = m₀ - Δm, m2 = m₀, and m3 = m0 + ,Δm, where Δm corresponds to that shown in Fig. 8. At step e, the calculated baseband characteristic is created by the data processing part 94. The calculation is performed, according to equation (14), by substituting m₀ with m₁, m₂, and m₃ sequentially. Thereby, in step, the appreciation functions (refer step q follows. In step q, m₀ and Δm are renewed. Then, the opration returns to step d in Fig. 13A. In step q, m is determined by <maths id="math0017" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0017.tif" /></maths> and Δm is shifted in value by <maths id="math0018" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0018.tif" /></maths> 10. The parameters a and b of the term <maths id="math0019" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0019.tif" /></maths>, are identical to the coefficients a and b used in a second order curve, i.e., am² + bm + c, which corresponds to the solid line curve shown in Fig. 8. The coefficient c is not used here for the related calculation.

0047The above coefficients a and b are determined by the following equations to equation (15)) AF₁, AF₂, and _AF3 are derived with respect to m₁, m2 and m₃, respectively.

0048Thereafter, in accordance with the relationship in dimensions among AF₁, AF₂, and AF₃ (refer to steps g and h in Fig. 13B), the values m and AF are changed so as to derive the value AF₁ (refer to steps i, j, and k) and the value AF₃ (refer to steps 1, m, and n). Step 0 starts when AF₂≤ AF₁, AF₃ stands, wherein if the accuracy is not sufficient, i.e., |<maths id="math0020" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0020.tif" /></maths>| > 10^-3 still stands, (16) and (17), respectively.<maths id="math0021" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0021.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0022" num=""><img file="EP0147251A2_D0022.tif" /></maths>

0049If |Δm m| ≤ 10^-3 stands at step o, the value M is finally fixed to m₂at step p.

0050As explained above in detail, in the present invention, first, the calculated baseband characteristic is obtained by means of the data processing part with data concerning the optical signal to be launched onto the optical fiber. Second, the actual baseband characteristic is obtained through the measurement of the receiving optical signal at the optical receiver. Third, the chromatic dispersion coefficient is determined from both the calculated and actual baseband characteristics. The above measurement is clearly different from the prior art measurement in which differences in arrival times among optical signals of different wavelengths are detected. Thus, the present invention can eliminate the troublesome operation to assure synchronization between the optical transmitter and the optical receiver. In addition, the present invention can measure an actually laid optical fiber.

0051Furthermore, in another prior art, two light sources having different wavelengths are used. The difference in arrival times between two optical signals therefrom is obtained by measuring the differences in phase therebetween. In the present invention, only one light source, such as a semiconductor laser, is enough to obtain the chromatic dispersion coefficient M. Thus, in view of the above, the present invention can be put into practical use easily and at a low cost.