Broadband chromatic dispersion in fiber-coupled optical interferometry

Chromatic dispersion is a well-known technical challenge in optical interferometry, and the issue is exacerbated when using optical fibers for beam transport. The important sources of chromatic dispersion in a fiber-coupled optical interferometer are investigated using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer operating between 975–1650 nm, with particular attention paid to various dispersive effects in fibers. The compensation of chromatic dispersion is also investigated, and a compensation strategy using bulk glass and fiber stretching is described. A notional dispersion budget is presented for a fiber-coupled interferometer operating in the near infrared, showing that dispersion can be compensated to the λ / 20 RMS level over a nearly 700 nm wide bandpass.