Calibration of silica fibers for the Optical Hawaiian Array for Nanoradian Astronomy (‘OHANA): Temperature dependence of differential chromatic dispersion

• Published in: Optics communications 2005-07, Vol.251 (1), p.115-123
• Main Authors: Vergnole, S., Kotani, T., Perrin, G., Delage, L., Reynaud, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Astronomical high resolution imaging; Astronomy; Astrophysics; Chromatic dispersion; Circuit properties; Earth, ocean, space; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Fiber testing and measurement of fiber parameters; Fundamental astronomy and astrophysics. Instrumentation, techniques, and astronomical observations; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Interferometers; Interferometry; Observation and data reduction techniques. Computer modeling and simulation; Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Optical fiber interferometer; Optical instruments, equipment and techniques; Physics; Temperature variation
• ISSN: 0030-4018; 1873-0310
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optcom.2005.02.077

In the frame of the Optical Hawaiian Array for Nanoradian Astronomy (‘OHANA) project, 300-m long silica fibers are necessary to coherently link the Canada–France–Hawaii and Gemini telescopes. In this paper, we report measurements of the differential chromatic dispersion between two 300-m long silica polarization maintaining fibers for the astronomical J band (1.10–1.40 μm) as a function of the temperature variation on one fiber arm of the interferometer. We demonstrate that the second order coefficient of chromatic dispersion increases linearly with the temperature. Consequently, we propose two methods to compensate this additional and variable differential chromatic dispersion: the first one using a dispersive optical fiber delay line and the second one using a set of CaF 2 bulk plates.