Spectral characterization and chromatic dispersion measurements in fiber Bragg gratings for dispersion compensation

Fiber Bragg gratings have already become a key passive component in fiber optic communication systems. We have characterized reflective Bragg gratings for dispersion compensation using a low-loss, low-noise experimental setup having a picometer resolution. Our measurements include reflectivity spectra, chromatic dispersion, group delay and polarization dependent loss. We have scanned the spectrum near the center wavelength of our gratings using a very narrow linewidth tunable laser operating in the range from 1520 to 1580 nm. A network analyzer is used for the chromatic dispersion measurements. Variable rime delays have been measured within the useful bandwidth; increasing ripples have been observed toward the bandwidth edges. Polarization dependent loss has also been measured with a polarization analyzer by applying Jones matrix analysis