Abstract:
This invention relates to the production of high purity fused silica glass through oxidation and/or flame hydrolysis of a halide-free, organosilicon-R compound in vapor form having the following properties: (a) producing a gas stream of a halide-free siliconcontaining compound in vapor form capable of being converted through thermal decomposition with oxidation or flame hydrolysis to SiO2; (b) passing said gas stream into the flame of a combustion burner to form amorphous particles of fused SiO2; (c) depositing said amorphous particles onto a support; and (d) either essentially simultaneously with said deposition or subsequently thereto consolidating said deposit of amorphous particles into a virtually nonporous body; the improvement comprising utilizing a halide-free, organosilicon-R compound in vapor form having the following properties: (1) a Si-R bond dissociation energy that is no higher than the dissociation energy of the Si-O bond; (2) a boiling point no higher than 350.degree.C; and (3) which, upon pyrolysis and/or hydrolysis, will produce decomposition products beside SiO2 which are deemed to be environmentally safe or the emissions are below acceptable governmental standards.
Abstract:
Methods for coating a glass substrate as it is being drawn, for example, during fusion draw or during fiber draw are described. The coatings are conductive coatings which can also be transparent. The conductive thin film coated glass substrates can be used in, for example, display devices, solar cell applications and in many other rapidly growing industries and applications.
Abstract:
An apparatus utilizing a hot wall reactor and methods for making nanoparticles are described. The nanoparticles can be collected in bulk or deposited onto a base substrate. The hot wall reactor utilizes gas-phase synthesis to produce nanoparticles. Inorganic nanoparticles deposited onto a substrate are useful, for example, for biological applications, for example, biomolecule attachment such as DNA, RNA, protein and the like. The inorganic porous substrates are also useful for cell growth applications.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods for fabricating optical fiber preforms and optical fibers. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for making an optical fiber preform includes the steps of providing at least one sacrificial rod having an outside surface; forming a material on the outside surface of each sacrificial rod to yield a structured body, the structured body including a structured material in substantial contact with the at least one sacrificial rod; removing each sacrificial rod from the structured body; and including the structured body in the optical fiber preform. The preform may be drawn into an optical fiber. The methods of the present invention are especially useful in the fabrication of microstructured optical fibers.
Abstract:
A method for making silicon oxynitride comprising providing a vaporous gas stream of a compound selected from the group consisting of silazanes and siloxazanes. An enclosed, heated reaction site is also provided. The vaporous gas stream is delivered to the enclosed, heated reaction site in which the levels of oxygen are strictly controlled to promote the formation of silicon oxynitride particles.
Abstract:
An optical fiber with a core of non-circular cross-section is realized by a method including the steps of creating a void having the desired cross-secti on in a preform housing and filling the void with an optical material. This structure is then collapsed to solidify it and drawn to desired dimensions. The optical material may be rods, soot or ground material. An active region which may be provided in the core does not necessarily have a different refractive index than that of immediately adjacent material. The active regi on of the drawn fiber may only support oscillation in the fundamental transvers e mode. The fiber drawn by the method disclosed may be used to convert multi- mode pump light into single mode light, e.g., for pumping a single mode amplifier.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an optical waveguide fiber having a compressive outer layer that includes TiO2 in the SiO2 matrix glass. The compressive outer layer includes crystalline structures containing TiO2 that are predominately rutile. Also disclosed is a method for making an optical waveguide fiber having a compressive outer layer. The compressive outer layer can contain an additional metal oxide that is preferentially lost from the outer layer, instead of the TiO2, during the drying and consolidation step.
Abstract:
Suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) by broadening the energy spectrum of participating SBS photons and/or phonons is achieved in an optical fiber having a core with both radially nonuniform viscosity and CTE profiles provided by alternating layers of glass modifying dopants such as phosphorous and fluorine. The nonuniform thermal expansion and viscosity profiles impart a residual, permanent, nonuniform stress in the fiber. The SBS suppressing effect provided by the nonuniform stress can be controlled and enhanced by applying a uniform or nonuniform tensile force to the fiber as it is being drawn. A preform for the fiber is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method for making silicon oxynitride comprising providing a vaporous gas stream of a compound selected from the group consisting of silazanes and siloxazanes. An enclosed, heated reaction site is also provided. The vaporous gas stream is delivered to the enclosed, heated reaction site in which the levels of oxygen are strictly controlled to promote the formation of silicon oxynitride particles.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an optical waveguide fiber having a compressive outer layer that includes TiO2 in the SiO2 matrix glass. The compressive outer layer includes crystalline structures containing TiO2 that are predominately rutile. Also disclosed is a method for making an optical waveguide fiber having a compressive outer layer. The compressive outer layer can contain an additional metal oxide that is preferentially lost from the outer layer, instead of the TiO2, during the drying and consolidation step.