Simple model for frozen-in viscoelastic stress in optical fibers

Abstract We have measured residual stress in a commercial single mode optical fiber and observed its relaxation in an annealing process with a polariscopic stress measurement method. After annealing the fiber for an hour at various high temperatures in a specially made image furnace we have measured the temperature dependent relaxation of frozen-in viscoelastic stress in the fiber. We have proposed a simple physical model to explain recently observed relaxation of frozen-in viscoelastic stress in optical fibers based on the Kelvin–Voigt model of viscoelastic materials. The experimental results are explained with our model of frozen-in viscoelastic stress by introducing simplified four-step procedures for fiber drawing.