Offset Misalignment Research Articles

Measurements of Loss Due to Offset, End Separation, and Angular Misalignment in Graded Index Fibers Excited by an Incoherent Source

Transmission losses versus fiber end offset separation, and angular misalignment of graded index fibers excited by an incoherent source, have been measured in two independent experiments. The measurement setup, fiber diameter, and length were different in the two experiments, yet the measurement results are strikingly similar. The loss measurements clearly show that transverse offset is much more critical in connector and splice design than angular misalignment and end separation. Two-tenths of the fiber core radius in transverse offset alone may cause 0.5 dB loss while one fiber core radius in axial separation combined with 1° in angular misalignment may cause 0.5 dB loss.