This paper investigates the relationship between cross-sectional geometry and splicing loss in a four-core multicore fiber (MCF) with a standard 125-mu m cladding diameter. We show that a binarized cross-sectional image is useful for determining the cladding/core center accurately. The validity of the measured geometry is demonstrated by comparing the measured and estimated splice loss histograms. The requirements for cladding/core concentricity error in a four-core MCF with a 125-mu m cladding diameter are also discussed numerically. Our results show that a four-core MCF can potentially achieve a feasible splicing loss property by considering the most stringent geometrical tolerance in the existing standard. Further improvement to the MCF geometry and/or connector technology, however, will be required to ensure the lowest connector loss standard when an additional tolerance for connector ferrules is needed.
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