Abstract

In this paper we report on measurements of the nonlinear coefficient n₂/A_eff (nonlinear refractive index/effective area) of different fibers of interest in transmission systems at 1550 nm: large-effective area fiber dispersion-shifted fiber (LEAF),¹ dispersion-compensation fiber (DCF), and standard dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF). The measurement of n₂/A_eff is essential in determining the magnitude of nonlinear effects such as selfphase modulation (SPM) and four-wave mixing (FWM), which may impose limitations on future high-speed submarine and terrestrial transmission systems. We also show that nonlinear effects are reduced in LEAF and increased in DCF, but not as much as previously expected.²

© 1996 Optical Society of America