What can lead to high splice loss in fiber optics?

High splice loss in fiber optics is primarily influenced by the alignment of the fibers being joined together. When splicing fibers, it is essential that they are perfectly aligned to ensure maximum light transmission from one to the other. Poor alignment can result in significant reflection and scattering of light, which leads to increased splice loss. The light that enters the receiving fiber may not be effectively coupled if the cores of the fibers aren't properly aligned, thus reducing the overall efficiency of the connection.

Other factors can also contribute to splice loss, but the direct impact of misalignment during splicing makes this a critical focus. For example, excessive cable length can lead to signal degradation, but it does not specifically impact splice loss when the splice itself is appropriately executed. Similarly, overheating or using different fiber types may introduce other issues, such as differing attenuation rates or reliability concerns, but the immediate cause of high splice loss is fundamentally linked to the alignment of the fibers during the splicing process.