Inter laboratory measurement campaign on single-mode fibres

An interlaboratory comparison of measurements on six single-mode fibres of different designs, both conventional and dispersion modified, has been performed in the framework of COST 217 Project. This measurement campaign was aimed at the evaluation and optimisation of the various measurement techniques. The measured quantities included mode field diameter, cutoff wavelength, chromatic dispersion, geometrical parameters and refractive-index profile. The agreement was generally better for conventional than for dispersion modified fibres. Although for dispersion and geometrical parameters the comparison was quite satisfactory, for mode field diameter and cutoff wavelengths the higher discrepancies were such as to require a further refinement of the relative measurement methods, particularly in dispersion modified fibres.