Effects of chemical modification on fusion splicing strength and optical parameters of optical fiber

Abstract

The degradation in fiber strength and the change of fiber refractive index during fusion splicing are observed through mechanical optical experiments and microanalysis. A hydrofluoric acid solution effectively enhances some performances after fusion occurs. A novel transmitted-light differential interference contrast (DIC) system is used to nondestructively measure the refractive index profile (RIP) of an optical fiber.