Single-mode-fibre passive components made in the fused-head-end technique

The fused-head-end technique, used successfully until now for producing passive fibre components in multimode fibre, can also be applied to produce single-mode fibre couplers and splitters. The device is based on evanescent mode coupling and has no pigtail problem. The first experimental results are presented, together with the theoretical interpretation. Some expected system applications and further improvements are indicated.