Spectral losses of unclad vitreous silica and soda-lime-silicate fibers

Spectral transmission losses of unclad optical fibers drawn from various types of commercial vitreous silica and of soda-lime-silicate glasses were measured in the wavelength range between 0.5 and 1.12 µm. The automated technique employed was both convenient to use and sensitive enough to measure losses of 6 dB/km, i.e., 75% loss per km, with an estimated accuracy of ±2 dB/km. Bulk-loss measurements performed with calorimetric and bridge-type techniques were in good agreement with the fiber-loss measurements.