HIGH RELIABILITY SPLICING OF SINGLE-MODE OPTICAL FIBERS.

Over the past few years there has been a rapid shift from multimode to single-mode fibers in transmission and sensor systems, largely as a result of the development of reliable low-loss splicing techniques for use in the field. However, more advanced applications, such as submarine cable systems, require splices which are of high strength and have an overall diameter close to that of the fiber itself. The authors describe techniques for producing high-strength splices by arc fusion and for reconstituting the fiber coatings without increasing the fiber diameter. Experience with these techniques in production has shown that such splices are stronger than the weakest part of the fiber and will survive for the lifetime of present systems.