Axial strain-induced microbending losses in double-coated optical fibers

The microbending losses induced by axial strain in double-coated optical fibers have been analyzed. The microbending loss is dominated by the lateral pressure in the glass fiber, which is proportional to the axial strain and is affected by the material properties of primary coating and secondary coating and their thicknesses. To minimize the microbending losses induced by axial strain, it is found that if the lateral pressure is compressive, the thickness and Poisson’s ratio of primary coating should be increased; but the Young’s modulus of primary coating should be decreased. On the other hand, the thickness, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio of secondary coating should be decreased.