Quantification of scattering from fiber surface irregularities

A quantitative description of the effects of fiber endface defects such as scratches and digs does not exist in the literature. We show, by considering surface scattering from the fiber endface, that such a description can be given in terms of a single parameter, which is a measure of the increase in backscattering due to the defect. We present our results in terms of some assumed values of this parameter.