IEC TR 62284:2025
(Main)Effective area measurements of single-mode optical fibres - Guidance
Effective area measurements of single-mode optical fibres - Guidance
IEC TR 62284:2025 which is a Technical Report, applies to single-mode optical fibres. Its object is to document the methods for measuring the effective area (Aeff) of these fibres. It defines three methods of measuring Aeff. Information common to all the methods is found in the body of this document. Information specific to each method is found in the annexes. The three methods are:
a) direct far-field (DFF);
b) variable aperture in the far-field (VAMFF);
c) near-field (NF).
The reference method, used to resolve disputes, is method A, direct far-field.
Effective area is an optical attribute that is specified for single-mode fibres and used in system designs probably affected by the non-linear refractive index coefficient, n2. There is agreement in both national and international standards bodies concerning the definition used in this document. Methods A, B, and C have been recognised as providing equivalent results, provided that good engineering is used in implementation.
The direct far-field is the reference method because it is the most direct method and is named as the reference method for mode field diameter in IEC 60793-1-45 and ITU-T Recommendation G.650.1.
A mapping function is a formula by which the measured results of one attribute are used to predict the value of another attribute on a given fibre. For a given fibre type and design, the mode field diameter (MFD) (IEC 60793-1-45) can be used to predict the effective area with a mapping function. A mapping function is specific to a particular fibre type and design. Mapping functions are generated by doing an experiment in which a sample of fibre is chosen to represent the spectrum of values of MFD and in which the fibres in the sample are measured for both MFD and Aeff. Linear regression can be used to determine the fitting coefficient, k, as defined by the following:
NOTE 1 Other mathematical models can be used if they are generally more accurate.
NOTE 2 See Annex E for more information.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2003. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) improvement of the description of measurement details for B-657 fibre;
b) modification of the minimum distance between the fibre end and the detector for the direct far field scan (Annex A);
c) deletion of Annex H.
Mesures de l'aire efficace des fibres optiques unimodales - Guide d'application
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
IEC TR 62284 ®
Edition 2.0 2025-12
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Effective area measurements of single-mode optical fibres - Guidance
ICS 33.180.10 ISBN 978-2-8327-0896-5
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CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Abbreviated terms . 6
5 Apparatus . 6
5.1 General . 6
5.2 Light source . 6
5.3 Input optics . 6
5.4 Cladding mode stripper . 6
5.5 High-order mode filter . 6
5.6 Computer . 6
6 Sampling and specimens . 7
6.1 Specimen length . 7
6.2 Specimen end faces. 7
7 Procedure . 7
8 Calculation or interpretation of results . 7
8.1 General . 7
8.2 Near-field . 7
8.3 Direct far-field . 7
8.4 Variable aperture in the far-field . 8
9 Documentation . 8
9.1 Essential information . 8
9.2 Information available upon request . 8
Annex A (normative) Direct far-field method measurement specifics . 9
A.1 Apparatus . 9
A.1.1 General . 9
A.1.2 Detector and aperture . 9
A.1.3 Scanning apparatus . 10
A.2 Procedure . 10
A.3 Calculations . 10
Annex B (normative) Variable aperture in the far-field method measurement specifics . 14
B.1 Apparatus . 14
B.1.1 General . 14
B.1.2 Output variable aperture assembly . 14
B.1.3 Output positioner . 15
B.1.4 Output optics . 15
B.1.5 Detector assembly and signal detection electronic . 15
B.2 Procedure . 15
B.3 Calculations . 15
Annex C (normative) Near-field method measurement specifics . 18
C.1 Apparatus . 18
C.1.1 General . 18
C.1.2 Output optics . 18
C.1.3 Positioning apparatus . 18
C.1.4 Detector assembly – Signal detection electronics . 18
C.2 Procedure . 18
C.2.1 Specimen alignment . 18
C.2.2 Power level adjustment . 19
C.2.3 Signal acquisition . 19
C.3 Calculation . 19
C.3.1 General . 19
C.3.2 Calculate the centroid . 19
C.3.3 Fold the intensity profile . 19
C.3.4 Compute the integrals from Formula (2) . 19
C.3.5 Complete the calculation . 20
Annex D (informative) Sample data and calculations . 21
D.1 Data from method A . 21
D.2 Data from method B . 23
Annex E (informative) Comparison between this document and ITU recommendations . 24
Annex F (informative) Treatment of side lobes in far-field data . 25
Annex G (informative) Method for computing effective area from variable aperture
data . 26
G.1 General . 26
G.2 Relationship between the fundamental mode field and the aperture power
flow . 26
G.3 Numerical approximation of the fundamental mode field. 31
G.4 Computation of effective area . 36
G.5 Summary . 38
Bibliography . 39
Figure A.1 – Test set-up for the direct far-field measurement . 9
Figure B.1 – Test set-up for the variable aperture in the far-field measurement . 14
Figure B.2 – Apparatus set-up measurements . 15
Figure C.1 – Near-field method test set-up . 18
Figure D.1 – Far-field intensity . 21
Figure D.2 – Near-field intensity . 21
Figure F.1 – Typical far-field plot displaying side lobes . 25
Figure G.1 – Measurement geometry of the variable aperture method . 27
Figure G.2 – Co-ordinate system used to evaluate the diffraction field . 27
Figure G.3 – Polar co-ordinates of r . 28
Figure G.4 – Geometry for the evaluation of Formula (G.12) . 30
Figure G.5 – Example of the fit to aperture power flow data . 34
Figure G.6 – Fit in the presence of decreasing data . 35
Figure G.7 – Mode field from the data in Figure G.5. 36
Figure G.8 – Change in A with r , from the data in Figure G.6 . 37
eff max
Table A.1 – Estimates of error . 10
Table D.1 – Sample measured and calculated data . 21
Table D.2 – Sample measured and calculated data . 23
Table G.1 – Comparison of exact and computed effective areas . 37
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
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Effective area measurements of single-mode optical fibres -
Guidance
FOREWORD
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