DCU

Dispersion compensation units (DCU) can be used in optical networks to compen-sate the broadening of a light pulse in optical waveguides. This broadening is known as dispersion and leads to a limitation of the transmission . Typi-cally a DCU module offers a fixed dispersion value, although compensation units with variable values are also available. Such a unit can easily be inserted into a fi-ber optic link as it has fiber optic connectors for input and output. The insertion loss-es can be significant but can be improved with a fiber amplifier. Such units are often placed between two fiber amplifiers. For effective compensation, the DCU was manufactured in such a way that it works over the entire from 1525 to 1565 nanometer.