Characterization and fusion splicing of single-mode photonic crystal fibers

Characterization of two single mode silica photonic crystal fibers strongly doped with GeO
₂
included also arc fusion splicing to standard single mode fibers for connections to test instruments, made successfully with machine designed for telecom fibers. Tested with OTDR, both fibers exhibited very strong backscattering and fairly high attenuation: 45-70 dB/km at 1310 nm and 1550 nm. Despite very similar design, their polarization mode dispersion (PMD) differed significantly (1127 ps/km and 118 ps/km) and was apparently produced by different mechanisms, as suggested by dependence on temperature and fiber twist.