Fiber fuse protection

An optical element for processing optical signals, comprising an optical fiber to be terminated carrying a signal of first maximum power level and an optical termination element for terminating the optical fiber, the termination element comprising a termination fiber which is unable to propagate a fiber fuse when the power is below a threshold power level which is greater than the first maximum power level, the values of the core diameter and the higher mode cutoff wavelength of the termination fiber defining the threshold power level.

An optical amplifier comprising amplification fiber and a pump source, a first coupler being provided for routing signals from the pump source to a first end of the amplification fiber and a second coupler being provided for routing pump source signals from a second end of the amplification fiber to a termination element using a first fiber, wherein the termination element comprises a termination fiber which is unable to propagate a fiber fuse when the power is below a threshold power level which is greater than the maximum pump source power level routed to the termination element, the values of the core diameter and the higher mode cutoff wavelength of the termination fiber defining the threshold power level.

A fiber laser comprising amplification fiber and a pump source, a first coupler being provided for routing signals from the pump source to the amplification fiber and reflectors being provided at the ends of the amplification fiber, a termination element being provided for terminating unused pump power which comprises a termination fiber which is unable to propagate a fiber fuse when the power is below a threshold power level which is greater than the maximum power routed to the termination element, the values of the core diameter and the higher mode cutoff wavelength of the termination fiber defining the threshold power level.

A method of designing an optical termination element for terminating an optical fiber carrying a signal of first maximum power level, comprising:

• selecting a threshold power level which is greater than the first maximum power level;
• and
• selecting a termination fiber which is unable to propagate a fiber fuse when the signal power is below the threshold power level, by selecting values of the core diameter and the higher mode cutoff wavelength.