Measurement of dispersion using short lengths of optical fiber and picosecond pulses from semiconductor film lasers.

Group velocity dispersion spectra have been determined for 7.8-m lengths of single-mode optical fiber. The dispersion spectra are derived from measurement of the transit delay time of picosecond pulses (4-10 ps) from optically-pumped, ultrashort cavity, semiconductor film lasers. The delay time spectra have been measured to 1 ps precision over the range from 1. 11 micron to 1.53 micron for single-mode step-index and quadruple- clad fibers. This is the highest temporal resolution achieved for any pulse delay measurement in optical fibers.