Enhancement of the DMD and EMB Test Method to Accommodate Next Generation Multimode Fiber

摘要

Laser-optimized multimode fiber is a cost effective optical media for short reach high-speed network applications in the data center. However due to bandwidth limitations, as application data rates increase the maximum supported reach of laser-optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode fiber is reduced. Since many of the 40G and 100G channel links in mega data centers approach the maximum reach limits, it is critically important that multimode fiber is accurately and reliably characterized for both current and future generations of multimode fiber. Presently, industry standard test procedures used, to measure fiber bandwidth are under specified leading to significant differences in test conditions and consequently, measurement variability. We have confirmed experimentally that one of the largest sources of measurement variability is the choice of sample test length. In this paper we report the results of a length dependence study on fiber bandwidth and propose potential enhancements to standard test procedures that can improve measured reliability.