Chromatic-Dispersion Monitor Based on a Differential Phase-Shift Method Using a Kerr Phase-Interrogator

We present a novel approach for real-time chromatic-dispersion (CD) monitoring using a Kerr phase-interrogator. CD induces a differential phase shift between two sinusoidal signals carried by two different wavelengths. A Kerr phase-interrogator converts the differential phase shift into power variation, and CD monitoring is achieved by measurement of the power variation in real time. A CD monitor with a resolution of 0.196 ps/nm is experimentally demonstrated. The high sensitivity and fast response of this CD monitoring approach opens the way for novel sensing applications.