Connection

Question 1

Do electrical conductors require aligned contact to connect optical fibers?

Answer 1

~ no, because electrons can follow a convoluted path

Question 2

What do connector housings do?

Answer 2

~ for frequent connection an disconnection

~ fibers are held in placed and aligned, putting their ends in close proximity

Question 3

When do losses occur?

Answer 3

~ when the fiber cores are not CO-LINEAR

~ gaps between fiber ends cause light intensity loss since light exits the fibers in a cone

Question 4

When do reflection losses occur?

Answer 4

~ at the two surfaces

~ back reflections can introduce signal noise

~ some systems use angled-cut fiber connections so that reflected light is lost from the fiber

Question 5

What lengths are bare fibers? Multi-fiber (heavy duty)?

Answer 5

~ bare fiber: 1-25km

~ multi fiber: 12km or less

Question 6

How are more permanent low loss connections made?

Answer 6

~ mechanical or fusion splicing

~ mechanical splices join fiber ends by clamping/epoxying them within a structure (ex: thin capillary tube), often with index matching gel inserted in the gap to reduce reflections

Question 7

When do we get the lowest loss?

Answer 7

~ with fusion splicing: two exposed and aligned fiber tips are fused together, typically by an electric arc