Determining the effective cutoff wavelength of single-mode fibers: An interlaboratory comparison

The National Bureau of Standards (NBS), in cooperation with the Electronic Industries Association, conducted an interlaboratory measurement comparison among six fiber manufacturers to determine the effective cutoff wavelength of single-mode fibers. Measurement techniques based on transmitted power were used to determine cutoff wavelength on four fibers designed for single-mode operation at 1300 nm. NBS also contributed results using a spectral near-field technique. One standard deviation measurement spreads for the various techniques range from 6 to 12 nm. With the appropriate data analysis, single bend attenuation and power step methods give the same results. Both techniques are easily implemented as extensions to the usual spectral attenuation measurement.