Specialty Optical Fibers Handbook

In choosing optical fiber design targets to maximize performance in specific

application segments such as metro, long-haul, or ultralong haul, a clear under-

standing of how fiber properties affect current and future system performance

must be combined with an understanding of the system cost impact. The tech-

nologies used to amplify signals, compensate dispersion, and route wavelengths

will interact with the fiber properties to affect the cost–performance balance.

The constraints due to practical considerations of cabling (microbending and

macrobending sensitivity), limits on cutoff wavelength, the availability of ultra-

pure materials, and cost of fabrication are also important in developing a new

commercial product.

This chapter explores several ...