Permanent Fiber Optic Splice

We will develop a permanent fiber optic splice prototype that is specially designed to meet the stringent performance and reliability requirements for military and aerospace avionic applications. This permanent fiber optic splice is intended to provide < 1 dB change in insertion loss over a wide range of operating environment, including a temperature change from -65 to 150 C. It will also provide the ultimate mechanical strength to enable a cable reconstruction in repair of broken fiber optic cables. Furthermore, we will develop a splicing fixture prototype that is user friendly and has a small footprint. A simplified splicing process will be established for field applications, while spark hazards associated with splicing equipment is eliminated. In the Phase II program, optical, mechanical, and environmental tests of the fiber splice prototype samples will be carried out following relevant MIL standards.