Patent ID: 7719665
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
1. A wavelength dispersion measuring method for an optical waveguide capable of measuring a wavelength dispersion in a section extending from an incident end of the optical waveguide to an arbitrary point along the way by using a scattering phenomenon in which a scattering coefficient at a local point on the optical waveguide is independent of time, comprising: a step of causing incident light having a known spectral density function S(ω) to be incident on the optical waveguide; a step of observing, by the incident light being incident on the optical waveguide in the step of causing the incident light to be incident on the optical waveguide, a signal being proportional to a scattered light amplitude generated at a first halfway point included in the section extending from the incident end of the optical waveguide to the arbitrary point along the way and a signal being proportional to a scattered light amplitude generated at a second halfway point being different from the first halfway point and included in the section extending from the incident end of the optical waveguide to the arbitrary point along the way; a step of calculating by a processor a wavelength dispersion of the section extending from the incident end of the optical waveguide to the arbitrary point along the way by a correlational function between the signal being proportional to the scattered light amplitude at the first halfway point and the signal being proportional to the scattered light amplitude at the second halfway point, the signals being observed in the step of observing the signals which are proportional to the scattered light amplitudes; and a step of using the calculated wavelength dispersion to determine the characteristic of the optical waveguide.