Abstract

Spectral losses in unclad optical fibers have been measured in the region between 0.5 and 1.12 μm with the filtered light of a xenon-arc lamp. Total losses were obtained nondestructively by measuring the light refracted from the fiber when it was immersed in a higher-index liquid. The radial irradiance distribution of the refracted light was used as a measure of the mode spectrum. Because scattering losses could be shown to approach the Rayleigh-scattering limit, and total losses were between 6 and 8 dB/km, i.e., 75 to 84% per kilometer, for some of the highest-purity synthetic vitreous silicas, we tentatively conclude that the spectral losses of unclad fibers represent a good approximation to the spectral losses of the bulk material.

© 1974 Optical Society of America

Spectral losses of unclad vitreous silica and soda-lime-silicate fibers

P. Kaiser, A. R. Tynes, H. W. Astle, A. D. Pearson, W. G. French, R. E. Jaeger, and A. H. Cherin
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 63(9) 1141-1148 (1973)

Refractive index and diameter measurements of unclad optical fibers

H. M. Presby
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 64(3) 280-284 (1974)

Drawing-induced coloration in vitreous silica fibers

P. Kaiser
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 64(4) 475-481 (1974)

Integrating Sphere for Measuring Scattering Loss in Optical Fiber Waveguides

F. W. Ostermayer and W. W. Benson
Appl. Opt. 13(8) 1900-1902 (1974)

Scattering from side-illuminated clad glass fibers for determination of fiber parameters

L. S. Watkins
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 64(6) 767-772 (1974)