The invention is to provide a wavelength dispersion measuring method for
an optical fiber capable of measuring a wavelength dispersion in a
section extending from an incident end of the optical fiber to an
arbitrary point along the way by using a scattering phenomenon in which a
scattering coefficient at a local point on the optical fiber is
independent of time. Incident light having a known spectral density
function S(.omega.) is caused to be incident on the optical waveguide,
and a wavelength dispersion of the section extending from the incident
end of the optical waveguide to the arbitrary point along the way by a
correlational function between a signal being proportional to a scattered
light amplitude generated at a first halfway point and a signal being
proportional to a scattered light amplitude generated at a second halfway
point.