CONTENTS

 1     Definition of the relevant parameters for single-mode fibres
        1.1     General definitions
                  1.1.1     refractive index profile
                  1.1.2     reference Test Method (RTM)
                  1.1.3     alternative Test Method (ATM)
                  1.1.4     cladding mode stripper
                  1.1.5     mode filter
        1.2     Mechanical characteristics
                  1.2.1     primary coating
                  1.2.2     secondary coating
                  1.2.3     prooftest level
                  1.2.4     stress corrosion parameter
        1.3     Mode field characteristics
                  1.3.1     mode field
                  1.3.2     mode field diameter
                  1.3.3     mode field centre
                  1.3.4     mode field concentricity error
                  1.3.5     mode field non-circularity
        1.4     Cladding characteristics
                  1.4.1     cladding
                  1.4.2     cladding centre
                  1.4.3     cladding diameter
                  1.4.4     cladding diameter deviation
                  1.4.5     cladding tolerance field
                  1.4.6     cladding non-circularity
        1.5     Chromatic dispersion definitions
                  1.5.1     chromatic dispersion
                  1.5.2     chromatic dispersion coefficient
                  1.5.3     zero-dispersion slope
                  1.5.4     zero-dispersion wavelength
                  1.5.5     source wavelength offset
                  1.5.6     dispersion offset
        1.6     Other characteristics
                  1.6.1     cut-off wavelength
                  1.6.2     attenuation
                  1.6.3     Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD)
 2     Test methods for single-mode fibres
        2.1     Test methods for the mode field diameter
                  2.1.1     Reference test method: The far-field scan
                  2.1.2     First alternative test method: The variable aperture technique
                  2.1.3     Second alternative test method: The near-field scan
        2.2     Test methods for the cladding diameter, mode field concentricity error and cladding non‑circularity
                  2.2.1     Reference test method: The transmitted near-field technique
                  2.2.2     First alternative test method: The refracted near-field technique
                  2.2.3     Second alternative test method: The side-view technique
                  2.2.4     Third alternative test method: The transmitted near field image technique
        2.3     Test methods for the cut-off wavelength
                  2.3.1     Reference test method for the cut-off wavelength (λc) of the primary coated fibre and reference test method for the cut-off wavelength (lcj) of jumper cables: The transmitted power technique
                  2.3.2     Alternative test method for λc: The split-mandrel technique
                  2.3.3     Reference test method for the cut-off wavelength (λcc) of the cabled fibre: The transmitted power technique
                  2.3.4     Alternative test method for the cut-off wavelength (λcc) of the cabled fibre
        2.4     Test methods for the attenuation
                  2.4.1     Reference test method: The cut-back technique
                  2.4.2     First alternative test method: The backscattering technique
                  2.4.3     Second alternative test method: The insertion loss technique
        2.5     Test methods for the chromatic dispersion
                  2.5.1     Reference test method: The phase-shift technique
                  2.5.2     First alternative test method: The interferometric technique
                  2.5.3     Second alternative test method: The pulse delay technique
        2.6     Test methods for prooftesting
                  2.6.1     Reference test method: Longitudinal tension
        2.7     Test methods for polarization mode dispersion
                  2.7.1     The Jones matrix eigenanalysis technique
                  2.7.2     The fixed analyser technique
                  2.7.3     Test method: Interferometric technique
                  2.7.4     Principal state of polarization (PSP) methods
Appendix I – Methods of cut-off wavelength interpolation
        I.1     Limited negative error method
        I.2     Least squares method
Appendix II – Determination of PMD delay from an interferogram
Appendix III – Non-linear attributes
      III.1     Background
      III.2     Effective area (Aeff)
      III.3     Correction factor k
      III.4     Non-linear coefficient (n2/Aeff)
      III.5     Stimulated Brillouin scattering
                III.5.1     Description of the effect
                III.5.2     SBS threshold estimation for single-mode fibres
      III.6     Other effects