Effect of bending in SMF fibers under high power

Abstract

In this work we investigate the coating damages in optical fibers under the simultaneous effects of high optical power and tight bending. The power losses and coating heating imposed by the high power propagation have been measured for a SMF fiber. We have implemented a theoretical thermal model for the fiber bend and the minimum safety bend diameter has been established.

Improved thermal model for optical fibre coating owing to small bending diameter and high power signals

“…The conjugation of high optical power and tight bending are nowadays found in the fibre to the home (FTTH) networks or in the fibre pigtails deployed at local exchange stations and can result in degradation of optical fibre lifetime or in more extreme situations on fibre destruction [1]. Several research groups have focused their activities in the study of the catastrophic damage and accelerated ageing of bent optical fibre under high optical power [2] and on the experimental observation of the optical power coating temperature [3,4]. In this Letter we analyse the temperature reached by the optical fibre coatings when subjected to different values of injected optical powers and bend diameters.…”