Which type of testing would likely reveal issues with microbending in fiber optics?

OTDR testing, or Optical Time-Domain Reflectometry, is a method specifically designed to assess the integrity of optical fibers by sending pulses of light down the fiber and analyzing the reflected light. This technique is particularly effective for identifying issues such as microbending, which can cause significant signal loss by disrupting the light transmission through the fiber.

Microbending occurs when there are physical distortions or pressure applied to the fiber, leading to localized losses. OTDR testing can detect these losses by measuring the time it takes for the light signals to return and by identifying any anomalies along the fiber’s length. This includes sudden drops in signal strength or unexpected reflections that indicate where microbends may be present.

By contrast, visual inspection might notice physical deformities but cannot quantitatively confirm the extent of any signal loss due to microbending. Electrical resistance testing pertains to conductive materials and does not apply to optical fibers. Temperature measurements, while possibly useful to assess environmental conditions affecting fiber performance, would not directly indicate issues caused by microbending. Hence, OTDR testing is the most suitable method for revealing problems with microbending in fiber optics.