A super-large-effective-area (SLA) optical fiber that is suitable for communicating
over a wide wavelength range and that, because of its large effective area, suppresses
nonlinear effects that typically result from interaction between signal channels.
The effective area, Aeff, of the SLA fiber of the present invention
preferably is equal to or greater than approximately 80 m2 at
a wavelength window around 1310 nm. The cutoff wavelength of the SLA fiber of the
present invention preferably is less than 1310 nm. Thus, the SLA fiber of the present
invention has a very large effective area and a very low cutoff wavelength. In
accordance with the present invention, a variety of SLA fibers are provided that
all have very large effective areas and desirable transmission properties. The
large effective areas of the SLA fibers of the present invention enable nonlinear
effects to be suppressed, as well as Stimulated Brillouin Scattering in analog
transmission. The large effective areas also enable attenuation to be reduced.
The result of suppressing nonlinear effects and reducing attenuation enable signals
to be transmitted over long distances and over a broad bandwidth.
