POSITIVE DISPERSION LOW DISPERSION SLOPE FIBER

摘要

Disclosed is a single mode optical waveguide having a segmented core of at least two segments. The relative refractive index, the index profile and the radial dimensions of the core segments are selected to provide an optical waveguide fiber having properties suitable for a high performance telecommunication system operating in the wavelength window of about 1530 nm to 1570 nm. Embodiments of the invention having two, three and four segments are described. To eliminate non-linear effects, such as FWM and SPM, which occur in a high performance, high rate systems, the effective area of the waveguide is made to be greater than about 60 mu m<2>, more preferably greater than 65 mu m<2>, and most preferably greater than 70 mu m<2>. The total dispersion is preferably positive and equal to at least 2 ps/nm-km at 1530 nm. This total dispersion together with a total dispersion slope less than about 0.1 ps/nm<2>-km insures a minimum FWM effect over the wavelength window.