Monday, February 17, 2020

Reflectance or loss of optical return of the connector

The reflectance or loss of optical return of the connector (also called "return reflection") is the amount of light that is reflected in the fiber towards the light-emitting source as a result of light reflections outside the surface interface polished connector end and air. It is called Fresnel reflection and is caused by the light that is transmitted and undergoes changes in the index of refraction at the interface between the fiber (n = 1.5) and the air (n = 1). Reflectance is the main
problem with connectors, but it can also affect mechanical splices that contain an index equalizer gel
to avoid it.

The reflectance is a component of the loss per connection and represents a loss of 0.3 dB for connectors that have no contact or have space between them, in the case where two fibers do not touch.

Reducing reflectance to the maximum is necessary to obtain maximum performance from high-speed fiber-based single-mode fiber-based systems based on lasers and, in particular, cable television modulated amplitude signals. In multimode fiber systems, reflections are not a problem but may contribute to background noise in the fiber.
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As reflectance is usually a problem in single-mode fiber systems, manufacturers focused on solving the problem of components of this type of fiber; however, multimode fiber connectors also benefit as the reduction in reflectance also implies a reduction in optical loss. Several strategies were used to reduce the reflectance, mainly by means of a convex polishing of the physical contact (PC) at the end of the splint of the connector, which reduces Fresnel's reflection. The technique involves polishing the surface of the end of the fiber to achieve a convex surface or, even better, polishing in the form of a soft angle (angled physical contact or APC) to prevent reflectance.

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