Abstract

For the production of fiber waveguides suitable for optical communications cables, glasses with extremely low attenuation are required. A new method is described for measuring the optical attenuation of bulk glasses in the wavelength range of 0.4–1.1 μm. Using a quartz halogen source with highly stabilized radiation power, a linearly polarized, monochromatic, collimated beam was produced, passing the sample at the Brewster angle. Transmission loss, residual reflection, and surface scattering were measured by low-noise photodiodes and integrating digital voltmeters. A stability of 10⁻⁵ and a resolution of 10⁻⁵ or better were achieved. Results for two different kinds of commercial glasses, fused quartz (Ultrasil) and synthetic vitreous silica (Suprasil W1), are reported and discussed.

© 1975 Optical Society of America

Attenuation measurement in glasses for optical communications: an immersion method

Walter Heitmann
Appl. Opt. 15(1) 256-260 (1976)

Low-Loss FEP-Clad Silica Fibers

P. Kaiser, A. C. Hart, and L. L. Blyler
Appl. Opt. 14(1) 156-162 (1975)

Calculation of Coupling Losses Between Light Emitting Diodes and Low-Loss Optical Fibers

K. H. Yang and J. D. Kingsley
Appl. Opt. 14(2) 288-293 (1975)

Shuttle pulse measurements of pulse spreading in a low loss graded-index fiber

L. G. Cohen and H. M. Presby
Appl. Opt. 14(6) 1361-1363 (1975)

Spectral Remote Sensing of Temperature Distribution in Semitransparent Solids Heated by an External Radiation Source

R. Viskanta, P. J. Hommert, and G. L. Groninger
Appl. Opt. 14(2) 428-437 (1975)