What is a common method for splicing fiber optic cables?

Fusion splicing is a common method for splicing fiber optic cables due to its effectiveness in providing low-loss and low-reflectance connections. This technique involves the use of heat to melt or "fuse" the ends of two optical fibers together, creating a continuous optical path. The process is highly precise, typically utilizing a fusion splicer, which aligns the fibers accurately and applies the necessary temperature to ensure a strong and reliable bond.

The result of fusion splicing is a joint that maintains signal integrity and minimizes optical loss, which is crucial for maintaining the performance characteristics of fiber optic communications. Additionally, fusion splicing is often preferred in high-performance applications because it results in less back reflection compared to other methods, allowing for clearer signal transmission over long distances.

While mechanical splicing is also used in some situations, it generally involves inserting fiber ends into a splice holder and aligning them without fusing them, which can result in higher loss compared to fusion splicing. The other methods mentioned are not applicable to fiber optics; twisting wires together and soldering ends together are common techniques used in copper wiring but are unsuitable for fiber optic cables, as they can damage the fragile glass fibers and do not provide a suitable optical connection.