Abstract:
High rate deposition methods comprise depositing a powder coating from a product flow. The product flow results from a chemical reaction within the flow. Some of the powder coatings consolidate under appropriate conditions into an optical coating. The substrate can have a first optical coating onto which the powder coating is placed. The resulting optical coating following consolidation can have a large index-of-refraction difference with the underlying first optical coating, high thickness and index-of-refraction uniformity across the substrate and high thickness and index-of-refraction uniformity between coatings formed on different substrates under equivalent conditions. In some embodiments, the deposition can result in a powder coating of at least about 100 nm in no more than about 30 minutes with a substrate having a surface area of at least about 25 square centimeters.
Abstract:
An optical waveguide fiber or body having a doped outer region which can be utilized in an optical coupler, a preform which can serve as the precursor for the fiber, an optical coupler, and methods of making same. Water, for example in the form of H2O and/or D2O, may be added to the cladding of the optical waveguide fiber or body.
Abstract:
A holey optical fibre for supporting propagation of light of a wavelength λ, comprises a plurality of cylinders (10) each having a longitudinal axis, the cylinders (10) being separated from each other by regions of a matrix material (20) and having their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to each other. Each cylinder (10) has a diameter, in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, that is small enough for the composite material of the ensemble of cylinders and matrix material to be substantially optically homogenous in respect of light of wavelength λ.
Abstract:
High index-contrast fiber waveguides, materials for forming high index-contrast fiber waveguides, and applications of high index-contrast fiber waveguides are disclosed.
Abstract:
A method for making a glass ceramic, optoelectronic material such as a clad optical fiber or other component for use in an optoelectronic device. The method comprises preparing a glass composition batch to yield a precursor glass for a nanocrystalline glass-ceramic that is doped with at least one kind of optically active ion, such as a transition metal or lanthanide element; melting the batch; forming a glass cane; surrounding the cane with a chemically inert cladding material shaped in the form of a tube; drawing a glass fiber from the combined precursor-glass "cane-in-tube" at a temperature slightly above the liquidus of the precursor glass composition, and heat treating at least a portion of the drawn clad glass fiber under conditions to develop nanocrystals within the core composition and thereby forming a glass ceramic.
Abstract:
A method of forming a preform which has a glass core (54) surrounded by an outer glass cladding (52) with a coating of a particulate optically active material (12) disposed between the core and cladding. The method includes providing a glass core having a viscosity which lies within a given preselected temperature range, followed by forming a coherent coating of an optically active particulate material (12) over the surface of the core, with the coating material (52) having a viscosity which is equal to or less than the viscosity of the glass core (54). A glass cladding (52) is formed over the coated layer, with the cladding glass (52) having a viscosity which overlaps the viscosity of the core glass (54). The optically active material is an inorganic material which includes a metal, metal alloy, ferrite, magnetic material and a semiconductor. The invention includes the product formed by the process.
Abstract:
An optical fibre having a single mode absorptive core (10) whose position, relative to the cross-sectional plane of the inner multimode cladding (12), varies along the length of the fibre. The periodicity and the magnitude of the relative displacement of the core (10) with respect to the cladding (12) are such that the transfer of radiation from the inner multimode cladding (12) to the core (10) is substantially improved over conventional fibres.
Abstract:
Methods are described for manufacturing silica-based glass, in which silica precursor material is supplied to a synthesis flame in the form of an emulsion. The methods involve the steps of: forming an emulsion of an aqueous phase in a non-aqueous liquid silica precursor material; supplying the emulsion as a spray of droplets into a synthesis flame, whereby the precursor material is converted in the flame into a silica-containing soot; and collecting the soot on a substrate, either as a porous soot body for subsequent consolidation to glass or directly as a substantially pore-free glass.