抛光对光纤连接器回波损耗的影响

分别选用氧化铝和氧化硅材料的抛光砂纸,在施加不同抛光压力、抛光时间,以及抛光助剂等工艺条件下,实验研究了抛光对连接器回波损耗的影响规律。通过实验发现:氧化铝砂纸干式抛光使光纤连接器的回波损耗仅保持在32～38dB之间;氧化硅砂纸干式抛光会造成光纤端面污损,使得连接器的回波损耗降低到20dB以下;氧化铝与氧化硅砂纸湿式抛光均可使光纤连接器的回波损耗提高到45～50dB,但氧化铝砂纸湿式抛光会造成80nm以上的光纤凹陷。因此,制作高回波损耗的光纤连接器应优先选用氧化硅砂纸湿式抛光工艺,抛光时间应控制在20～30s。

Influences of polishing on return loss of optical fiber connectors

Both polishing films with Al_2O_3 and SiO_2 abrasive material are chosen respectively. Under different polishing conditions such as applying a series of polishing pressure, polishing time and polishing agent, the influence rules of polishing to return loss of optical fiber connectors are researched by experimental methods. According to the experimental results, the dry Al_2O_3 abrasive polishing process makes return loss of optical fiber connectors keep only between 32～38dB; the dry SiO_2 abrasive polishing process causes the optical fiber end-faces contaminated, and reduces return loss of connectors to 20dB below; both wet Al_2O_3 abrasive and SiO_2 abrasive polishing processes are able to increase return loss of connectors to 45～50dB, but the wet Al_2O_3 polishing process may produce optical fiber undercut 80nm upwards. So the wet SiO_2 abrasive polishing process be selected by preference when optical fiber connectors with high return loss are manufactured, and polishing time be controlled in the range of 20～30s.