Differential mode delay and modal bandwidth measurements of multimode fibers using frequency-domain method

We report a frequency-domain method for measuring the differential mode delay (DMD) and bandwidth of multimode fibers (MMFs). Using a frequency domain instrument, vector network analyzer (VNA), the method measures the complex transfer functions (CTFs) of multimode fibers for a given set of launch conditions. As a result of the fiber length, which is long relative to sampling points used in VNA, the frequency sampling is under-sampled and the measured CTF is aliased. Aliased CTF behaves very differently from fully sampled CTF with dependence on the sampling frequency step. With proper procedures, the CTF can be transformed to local time frame centered around DMD into a modified CTF. The time-domain output pulses can be further recovered through an inverse Fourier transform. By recovering output pulses using complex transfer functions of a multimode fiber at controlled launch offsets, one can subsequently follow the same procedures of existing time domain methods to determine the effective modal bandwidth of the multimode fiber under test (FUT). As a result of the method, DMD and modal bandwidth measurements can be undertaken using frequency domain instruments rather than time domain instruments in a mathematically equivalent manner for multimode fibers. The measurement method utilizes CW light sources that are readily available in a wide range of wavelengths, thus providing greater flexibility for measuring the modal bandwidth of MMFs at different wavelengths, including WDM applications other than 850 nm. The very high sensitivity of the VNA allows the measurement at much lower optical power compared to the time domain instrument. Several measurements at 850 nm have been conducted using the frequency domain method and validated by comparison with the results from the time domain method. The method is suitable for measuring MMFs from a short length of a few hundred meters to a very long length close to 20 km. We have also measured an MMF at 910 nm using the method to demonstrate its flexibility in adopting different wavelengths.