title: Attenuation and diffusion produced by small-radius curvatures in POFs.
abstract: Our aim is to characterize curvatures using a methodology previously applied to other localized disturbances in plastic optical fibers (POFs). The effects of several curvature radii and turn angles have been analyzed, so that for each condition, angular dependent attenuation and diffusion are obtained from experimental measurements to construct a matrix that accounts for the global effects of power loss and mode mixing introduced by the curvature over the angular power distribution. Power loss as a function of bend radius was calculated using the characteristic matrices and compared to experimental results to validate the model. This curvature model can be a useful tool to predict the impact of bends on transmission properties as is demonstrated in the example of a small network in a domestic environment.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Losada
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mateo