Single-mode fiber measurements

The author discusses the various techniques used to characterize the following transmission parameters of single-mode fibers: attenuation, cutoff wavelength, mode-field diameter, and chromatic dispersion. The cutback method, the insertion-loss method, and optical time-domain reflectometry are considered for attenuation measurements. The single-band and power step methods are considered for cutoff-wavelength measurements. The transverse-offset, and near- and far-field techniques are considered for the measurement of mode-field diameter, and time- and frequency-domain methods and interferometry are considered for chromatic-dispersion measurements. The single-bend and power step methods are considered for cutoff-wavelength measurements.<
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