Apparatus comprising a low reflection optical fiber termination

This invention is an apparatus which comprises a low reflection optical fiber termination. The apparatus comprises an optical fiber having a core (20), a cladding (18) and a designated end. The core of the fiber has an effective refractive index N (exemplarily 1.484 +/- .026). A terminator (22) having a refractive index approximately equal to N (e.g. to within +/-3.5%) is attached in such a manner that the terminator and the designated fiber end are in intimate contact (24). The closer the refractive index of the terminator is to the refractive index of the core of the fiber, the less back reflection occurs. A curable polymer having (26) a high refractive index can be used to coat the terminator and a portion of the fiber. There is no need to polish, bend, cleave, twist or taper the end of the optical fiber prior to attaching the substrate to the optical fiber. Thus, the apparatus can be readily and inexpensively practiced not only in the factory but also in the field.