Answer Happy

In a didactic experiment to measure attenuation in optical fibers, we have two optical fiber cables with the same intrinsic characteristics, i.e., they are manufactured with the same material. The only difference between them is that cable #1 is 1.5m long and cable #2 is 5.0m long. The cables have identical (ST) connectors at their ends. To carry out the experiment, an unknown optical power is injected into the cable input and the optical power at the output is measured.
Using only cable #1, an optical power output of 1 mW was measured. Using only cable #2, an optical power output of 0.794 mW was measured.
a) Knowing that the optical power at the input was kept constant for both cables, determine the attenuation coefficient of the material used in the manufacture of the cables for the wavelength used (660 nm).
b) Then, we connect the two cables through an ST-ST connector (connecting cables 1 and 2), so that we have a single cable with a total length of 6.5 m (+ connectors). Keeping the optical power at the input constant, we measure the optical power at the output of 0.5 mW.
Determine the attenuation (in dB) due only to the ST-ST connector connecting the two cables. (1 pt).
GEDICH ST Connector Coupler ST Connector