Abstract

Several monomode fiber measurement techniques and installation procedures, in particular fusion splicing, require the preparation of clean planar fiber ends which are perpendicular to the fiber axis to within 1°.¹ Cleaving provides the fastest, simplest, and cheapest means of producing suitable ends provided an adequate success rate can be guaranteed. Optimization of cleaving tool design and operating parameters, is, therefore, essential, and this In turn must be based on a detailed investigation and understanding of the entire cleaving process. Fracture propagates through fused silica in a plane normal to the local stress field.² Thus control of this field, especially prevention of asymmetrical nonaxial stress components prior to and during fracture, is of central importance.

© 1983 Optical Society of America