Unusual fault detection and loss analysis in optical fiber connections with refractive index matching material

We investigated and analyzed an unusual fault that occurs in optical access fiber networks, which is caused by a defective fiber connection. We developed a fault-detection system to locate such a fault by using both optical power level and optical pulse measurement methods. We investigated a defective mechanical splice in three laboratory tests: outward appearance, non-destructive, and dismantled. As a result, we confirmed that the defective mechanical splice had large gaps of more than 10 μm. We also analyzed the unusual fault that occurs from such a defective mechanical splice in mechanically transferrable (MT) connector experiments. The experimental results revealed that the optical performance of fiber connections with a mixture of refractive index matching material and air-filled gaps was extremely unstable and varied widely. In the worst case, the insertion loss worsened to more than 30 dB. The case of the fault caused by a mixture of refractive index matching material and air-filled gaps between the ends of optical fibers is thought to occur independently of the sorts or structures of optical fiber connectors and could be a characteristic peculiar to optical fiber connections using refractive index matching material. These findings can be applied to optical fiber connections that use refractive index matching material, such as MT connectors in outside underground facilities, mechanical splices, or field assembly connectors at aerial and home sites in optical access networks. These findings also support the practical construction and operation of optical network systems.