Heating and burning of various optical fibers by light scattered from bubble train formed by fiber fuse

We investigate in detail the heating and burning characteristics in various commercially available optical fibers when a bubble train forms in the middle of the fiber as a result of the fiber fuse that occurs when a high power signal is launched into the fibers. We found that the scattered light heats UV coated fiber to around 100 °C, and nylon jacketed silica fiber and fire-retardant jacketed fibers (PVC or FRPE jacketed fiber) to over 200 °C, and finally the fiber burns and is destroyed at a launched optical power of 3 W. Furthermore, we confirm that the combustion does not spread when we use fire retardant jacketed fibers.