ABSTRACT
Attenuation is the loss of power in a fibre-optic cable or any optical material, and can result from many causes. Light losses occur when the fibre-optic cables are subjected to any type of stress, temperature change or other environmental effects. The most important source of loss is the bending that occurs in the fibre-optic cable during installation or in manufacturing process. This chapter calculates the light loss in optical components, such as a glass slide, an epoxy layer and a fibre cable. It also calculates light loss due to microscopic bending in a fibre cable. Scattering loss occurs in optical material inhomogeneities introduced during glass preparation and addition of dopants in manufacturing process. Epoxy adhesives are very important components in manufacturing fibre-optic devices. All epoxy adhesives affect light passing through the epoxy. Fibre-optic cable bending losses are caused by a variety of outside influences. These influences can change physical characteristics of cable and affect how the cable guides the light.
