Definitions and statistical characterization of core position errors in multicore fibers

Area of Science:

• Optical Fiber Technology
• Metrology
• Image Analysis

Background:

• Multicore fiber imaging presents challenges due to rotational offsets, impacting core-position accuracy.
• Accurate core positioning is vital for meeting stringent industry specifications and quality standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of reference-angle definitions on core-position errors in multicore fibers.
• To compare different norm minimization criteria (L1, L2, L4, L∞) for optimal reference-angle determination.

Main Methods:

• Formulated reference-angle determination as norm minimization after translation to the cladding-center origin.
• Employed Monte Carlo simulations incorporating Gaussian fabrication perturbations and center-localization noise.
• Evaluated L1, L2, L4, and L∞ criteria based on their performance in minimizing per-core deviations.

Main Results:

• The L1 criterion exhibited the smallest mean error but a heavy upper tail, potentially leading to conservative pass/fail decisions.
• The L∞ criterion effectively suppressed extreme deviations but proved sensitive to noise.
• The L4 criterion demonstrated a favorable balance, offering tail suppression similar to L∞ and robustness comparable to L2.

Conclusions:

• The choice of reference-angle definition significantly influences core-position error assessment in multicore fibers.
• The L4 norm minimization criterion provides a robust and balanced approach for reference-angle determination, enhancing inspection yield and decision-making accuracy.