Microscopic Analysis of Standard Outer Diameter Multicore Fiber Connector Ferrule End Faces

Abstract

Physical contact optical connectors (PC) maintain long-term stability by keeping the contact of the optical fiber even if temperature fluctuations cause microscopic deformation of the ferrule endface. With multicore fibers (MCF), it is necessary to reexamine how to maintain the stable PC connection, because they have cores in addition to the center. We ran a finite element analysis of the microscopic deformations of ferrule endfaces on 4-core MCFs with standard outer diameters. From the microscopic deformation analysis of optical connectors with apex offset and fiber withdrawal under IEC61755-3-1 and IEC61753-1 Category OP+^HD conditions, all endface conditions were confirmed. For ferrule endface conditions with the standard outer diameter 4-core MCF mentioned above, with a radius of curvature 15 mm or more, it was confirmed that the connection is stable under standard conditions.