Simple dispersion measurement of a long-span,single-mode fibre using the longitudinal mode spacing of a semiconductor laser

A simple method for measuring dispersion in long-span single-mode fibre, by using directly modulated multi-longitudinal mode semiconductor lasers, is proposed. Experimental values for single-mode fibre dispersion over a 44.3km span at 1.1 and 1.5m are 19 and 17 ps km^–1 nm^–1, respectively, and are in good agreement with Gloge's theory. The zero-dispersion wavelength estimated from the experimental results is about 1.28m, 8 nm shorter than the theoretical value.