Novel Design Method for Single-Mode Bend-Insensitive Fiber Appropriate for Fiber-to-the-Home Application

Abstract

A proposal for a new single-mode optical fiber design technique with ultra-low bending loss applicable in fiber-to-the-home operation is presented. The suggested design method is based on reverse problem engineering, which evaluates the refractive index profile. The most remarkable feature of this methodology is designing a bend-insensitive fiber without core radius and mode field diameter reductions. The designed structures exhibit ultra-low bending loss and high effective area simultaneously. Meanwhile, the residual stress of the designed structures is small due to gradual variation of the refractive index in the core region. Simulation results show a bending loss of 4.3 × 10−4 dB/turn at 1.55 μm for a single turn of 5-mm radius.