Accurate characterization of the transmittivity of large-diameter multimode optical fibers

We describe an original technique that permits a specially accurate measurement of the variations of the transmittance of optical fibers vs the incidence of launched light. For large-diameter large-aperture fibers, which prefer light power transmission, the transmittance may be modeled using geometric optics. Taking into account the reflection losses at both ends, the core attenuation and a very weak lack of reflectivity at the core-cladding interface, good agreement is obtained between calculated variations and experimental results for the three kinds of fiber tested. The remaining difference has to be attributed to the mode coupling process which may be thus evaluated. The too high attenuation coefficient, which is attributed to the cladding to account for the losses at the core-cladding interface, characterizes in fact a thin perturbed layer where the materials contact. Thus, this method is a good means to evaluate separately the various processes contributing to the attenuation of open beams along the fibers and to determine which process should be worked on to improve the transmittance.