Variables effects on temperature distributions for coupled single mode optical fibers

Abstract

Fiber Optic network and devices have found increasing usage in everyday life due to their immunisation of electromagnetic wave. Parallel with these development, coupled single fibers had emerged to be one of important aspect in fiber optic technology. Single mode fibers manage to capture many attentions because of their potential in high capacity data processing. In the early days, fibers are coupled using mechanical method but recently researcher had discovered that a more efficient way of coupling fibers that is by using fusion elongation method. Coupled fibers produced using this method was proven to have low excess loss and these coupled fibers were more stable mechanically. Excess loss of the fibers coupled using fusion method depends on the fused region. Since fusion elongation method is a new field in fiber optics, it was found that there are not many research had been done in this area, particularly during the stage of fusing the fibers. It is obvious that during fusion process, heat transfer occur throughout the coupling region of the coupled fiber. Heat transfer occurs mainly through conduction since the fiber is in the form of solid. Using the heat equation in cylinder form, and neglecting the angular component in the equation, the temperature distribution of the fiber had been obtained. Several boundary conditions have been preset in order to obtain the constant values for the governing equation. To simplify the discussion and for the sake of better understanding, the equation for temperature distribution have been classified into three terms. Each of these terms were analysed. The results we obtained matched the physical change that occurs to the fibers. This research also shows that time is the most important component in the fusion coupling process.