Dispersion-optimized optical single-mode glass fiber waveguides

The optical dispersion in singly clad dielectric monomode waveguides is calculated by taking into account the frequency dependence of the refractive indices of the core and the cladding materials. The total dispersion is composed of the material dispersion and the dispersion of the waveguide structure. Fibers can be optimized in such a way that these two portions have opposite signs. The portion due to material dispersion, however, is about 2 orders of magnitude greater than that due to waveguide structure dispersion (considering typical glasses at wavelengths of 0.9 microm and 1.06 microm). Thus, complete compensation of these portions is impossible, and the fibers cannot be made dispersion-free at these wavelengths. The total dispersion at 1.06 microm, however, is smaller than at 0.9 microm by a factor of ?