Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for providing a mechanical-only splice between two optical glass fibers. No fusion splicing is involved. A heat-shrinkable plastic ferrule containing an aperture extending from one end of the ferrule to the other accepts a different cleaved and cleaned optical fiber into each of its two ends, the fibers meeting at or near the middle of the ferrule in a parallel or coplanar manner forming a splice junction. Index matching gel is applied to at least one of the fiber ends before entering the aperture. Heat is applied to the ferrule to shrink it upon the portion of the two fibers within the ferrule (sealed fibers) and hold the splice junction in place. Epoxy can be applied to both ends of the ferrule to further seal the fiber splice junction, and to further enhance its integrity. If both fibers are sliced on an angle other than 90 degrees, when they touch inside the ferrule they are automatically coplanar without requiring intervening orientation.

Abstract: A system comprises a laser configured to produce a laser beam and to be optically coupled to a first end of an optical fiber of a device under test, a phase mask configured to selectively pass one of a plurality of modes and to be optically coupled to a second end of the optical fiber of the device under test, and a detector optically coupled to the phase mask and configured to determine an intensity of the beam received over the optical connection from the phase mask. The system may further comprise a data analyzer connected to the detector and in selective communication with the phase mask, wherein the data analyzer is configured to set the phase mask to selectively pass a fundamental mode, set the phase mask to selectively pass a higher order mode, receive intensity data from the detector, and determine a performance in the form of at least one performance factor for said device under test according to said intensity data.

Abstract: A system comprises a laser configured to produce a laser beam and to be optically coupled to a first end of an optical fiber of a device under test, a phase mask configured to selectively pass one of a plurality of modes and to be optically coupled to a second end of the optical fiber of the device under test, and a detector optically coupled to the phase mask and configured to determine an intensity of the beam received over the optical connection from the phase mask. The system may further comprise a data analyzer connected to the detector and in selective communication with the phase mask, wherein the data analyzer is configured to set the phase mask to selectively pass a fundamental mode, set the phase mask to selectively pass a higher order mode, receive intensity data from the detector, and determine a performance in the form of at least one performance factor for said device under test according to said intensity data.