Temperature dependency of Polarization Extinction Ratio in Polarization Maintaining Fiber with LC/UPC connectors

Abstract

This paper reports the temperature dependency of Polarization Extinction Ratio (PER) in Polarization Maintaining Fiber (PMF) with LC/UPC connectors. Ten LC/UPC PMF patchcords were PER measured under 3 testing conditions: A, B and C. Test A, patchcords were coiled on hot plate for 5 loops with 3-cm inner diameter and 4-cm outer diameter. The hot plate's temperature was increased from 25°C to 75°C and decreased back to 25°C at a step of 5°C. Test B, patchcords were coiled around hot rod with 3-cm in diameter for 5 loops. The hot rod's temperature was set in the same manner as Test A between 25°C to 100°C. In Test C, patchcords were uncoiled and left at room temperature while being PER measured for 15 minutes. From the sampled PER plots, small variations occur mainly at temperature transitions. The Standard Deviations (SDs) of PER confirm that their averages in Test A and B are nearly the same (0.30 – 0.35), but larger than the average SDs in Test C (0.17 and 0.21). However, when only the PERs below 35 dB (according to OZ Optics ER-100-IR specification) at 75°C in Test A and B are computed, their average SDs reduce to 0.08 and 0.06 respectively. Hence, the hot rod at constant 75°C is chosen for future PER measurement because of its stable results in shortest time and simplified setup.