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Abstract: The modal behavior of a ∼500-μm2 mode area photonic bandgap fiber was theoretically and experimentally investigated. First, a full-vector finite element algorithm was used to predict the modal properties. Then, a low-coherence reflectometry technique was employed to measure the chromatic dispersion and evaluate the number of guided modes. A short length of fiber was found to guide only two LP modes with different attenuation coefficients. The measured chromatic dispersion of the fundamental mode was found in close agreement with theoretical value. The large positive dispersion is theoretically explained by the positive waveguide dispersion induced by weak a spectral variation of radial electric field distribution in Bragg fibers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]