Mode splitting at splices of GRIN fibers

Mode conversion at splices of multimode optical fibers with power-law graded-index is investigated. With the assumption that the multitude of modes may be regarded to be a continuum, the boundary value problem is approximated by a geometric analysis, which eases the interpretation of mode splitting at splices. Although the approximation is not rigorous it provides a new approach for the determination of mode splitting at splices, generating results supported by published data. These results are used to verify the realizability of the optical equalization technique.