Single mode 1 /spl times/ 8 fused couplers

Abstract

The 1 /spl times/ 8 optical star coupler for single mode fiber (SMF) is reported. Using seven 2 /spl times/ 2 fused couplers, a 1 /spl times/ 8 optical star coupler is developed. The characteristics and the reliability test results of this star coupler are reported. Before fabricating the 1 /spl times/ 8 star coupler, total insertion loss and loss uniformity are estimated, and seven 2 /spl times/ 2 fused couplers are selected. A high performance 1 /spl times/ 8 star coupler is achieved based on this estimation. Evaluated environmental temperature cycling, humidity resistance, thermal aging, water immersion, and vibration are evaluated. Throughout these tests, insertion loss change is less than 0.3 dB.