Optical fibre assemblies and methods of use

A method of testing a hollow core optical waveguide, the method comprising:

• providing the hollow core optical waveguide in an optical fibre assembly, wherein the optical fibre assembly comprises:
• a hollow core optical waveguide comprising a hollow core surrounded by a structured arrangement of longitudinally extending capillaries providing an inner cladding surrounded by an outer cladding;
• and
• a diagnostic solid core optical waveguide comprising a solid core surrounded by a cladding, and extending substantially parallel to the hollow core optical waveguide;
• and
• launching one or more test light signals into the solid core optical waveguide of the optical fibre assembly;
• detecting a portion of the test light signals emitted from the solid core optical waveguide proximate one or both ends of the optical fibre assembly;
• analysing the detected portion of the test light signal to determine a state of the solid core optical waveguide;
• deducing a state of the hollow core optical waveguide of the optical fibre assembly from the determined state of the solid core optical waveguide;
• and
• designating the optical fibre assembly as operable or inoperable according to the deduced state of the hollow core optical waveguide.

A method of testing a hollow core optical waveguide, the method comprising:

• providing the hollow core optical waveguide in an optical fibre assembly of an optical fibre cable comprising a hollow core optical waveguide, a solid core optical waveguide, and a jacket;
• launching one or more test light signals into the solid core optical waveguide of the optical fibre assembly comprising an optical fibre;
• detecting a portion of the test light signals emitted from the solid core optical waveguide proximate one or both ends of the optical fibre assembly;
• analysing the detected portion of the test light signal to determine a state of the solid core optical waveguide;
• deducing a state of the hollow core optical waveguide of the optical fibre assembly from the determined state of the solid core optical waveguide;
• designating the optical fibre assembly as operable or inoperable according to the deduced state of the hollow core optical waveguide;
• and
• deploying the optical fibre cable as an optical signal transmission pathway before or during the launching of the one or more test light signals.