MATLAB Tool for Conversion Between Dispersion Parameter D and Group Velocity Dispersion Parameter beta2

In optical fiber communication systems, the dispersion parameter D and the group velocity dispersion parameter β₂ are two crucial parameters describing the dispersion characteristics of optical fibers. The conversion relationship between them is essential for analyzing optical pulse transmission.

The dispersion parameter D is typically measured in ps/(nm·km), representing pulse broadening per unit wavelength interval and unit fiber length. The group velocity dispersion parameter β₂ is measured in ps²/km, directly reflecting the relationship between group velocity and frequency. These two parameters can be mathematically related through the optical wavelength λ and the speed of light c.

The core algorithm of the MATLAB implementation follows this logic: User inputs wavelength λ and D value, then calculates β₂ using the formula: β₂ = -(λ²/2πc)·D For reverse conversion, the program utilizes: D = -(2πc/λ²)·β₂ Key implementation consideration: The program automatically handles unit conversion (e.g., wavelength conversion to nanometer scale) through built-in validation functions that check input dimensions and apply appropriate scaling factors.

This tool is suitable for optical fiber design, optical communication system simulation scenarios, enabling rapid verification of dispersion characteristics at different wavelengths. Users simply input known parameters, and the program automatically outputs conversion results, eliminating potential dimensional errors from manual calculations. The code includes error handling for invalid inputs and provides unit consistency checks through dedicated validation routines.