title: Accurate cross-sectional stress profiling of optical fibers.
abstract: A novel technique for determining two-dimensional, cross-sectional stress distributions in optical fibers and fiber-based devices is presented. Use of the Brace-Köhler compensator technique and a polarization microscope for the measurement of retardation due to stress-induced birefringence is described, along with the tomographic reconstruction process for the determination of stress. Measurements are performed on Corning SMF-28 fiber in an unperturbed section, a section near a cleaved end-face, and a section exposed to CO2 laser radiation. Cross-sectional stress distributions are presented. Stress relaxation is quantified in the cleaved fiber and the fiber exposed to CO2 laser radiation.
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 777 Atlantic Drive, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0250, USA. tgaylord@ece.gatech.edu
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hutsel
authors.forename: Reeve
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ingle
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Gaylord