Measurements and simulation of multipath interference for 1.7-Gbit/s lightwave systems utilizing single and multifrequency lasers

Multipath interference (MPI) degradation occurs when two interfering fields combine creating noise in the detected signal.1-3 The total electric field due to light passing between two reflective fiber joints can be written as the sum of a direct and delayed component (higher-order multiple reflections can be ignored for practical connector reflections) to yield