Abstract:
The invention features high index-contrast fiber waveguides (1301) that can be drawn from a preform. The invention also features materials for forming high index-contrast fiber waveguides (1301), and guidelines for their selection. High index-contrast fiber waveguides (1301), which may include opical fibers and photonic crystal fibers, can provide enhanced radial confinement of an optical signal in the fiber waveguide (1301). Moreover, large optical energy densities can be achieved inside the high index-contrast fiber waveguides, making them attractive candidates for a number of applications.
Abstract:
High index-contrast fiber waveguides, materials for forming high index-contrast fiber waveguides are disclosed. In one of the aspect of the invention, a high index-contrast fiber (701) includes a core (710) with refractive index n1 extending along a waveguide axis and a cladding layer (720) surrounding core (710) having an index of refraction n2. The core (710) incldues a hhigh index material, e.g., a chalcogenide glass and the cladding layer (720) includes a low index material, e.g., an oxide glass and/or halide hglass. The absolute difference between n1 and n2 is at least 0.35.
Abstract:
High index-contrast fiber waveguides (701) having a core (710) and a cladding (720), material for forming high index-contrast fiber waveguides (701), and applications of high index-contrast fiber waveguides (701) are disclosed.
Abstract:
An apparatus for producing the glass soot (58) used in the formation of optical fiber includes a burner (12) with an internal atomizer (38). The atomizer (38) includes an outer tube (40) having a nozzle (42) at an end thereof, and an inner tube (44) located within the outer tube (40) and having a closed end (46) restricting fluid flow therethrough and defining a cylindrical sidewall (48) having radially extending apertures (50) spaced there along. The outer tube (40) receives the glass-forming mixture (24) in liquid form and the inner tube (44) receives an atomizing gas (54) which flows through the apertures (50) in the sidewall (48) of the inner tube (44) and atomizes the glass-forming mixture (24) as the glass-forming mixture (24) travels through the outer tube (40).
Abstract:
An apparatus (10) for producing a glass soot in a flame (51) and depositing the soot onto a bait rod (52) includes a first burner (12) having a droplet-emitting first region (14), a gas-emitting second region (16) surrounding the first region, and a gas-emitting third region (18) surrounding the second region. The first region emits a glass-forming mixture (20) from a source (21), the second region emits an inert gas (22) from a source (23), and the third region emits a combination of oxygen and a combustible gas from a source (25). A conversion area (26) has a first section (27) proximate the first burner and a second section (29) distal from the first burner. At least one secondary burner (28 and 30) has a fourth (32) region emitting oxygen from a source (36) and fifth (34) region emitting a combustible gas from a source (38) into a flame (31) communicating with the second section (29) of the conversion area.
Abstract:
This process provides a new way to embed rare earth fluorides into silica (or germania-doped silica) glasses by solution chemistry. Embedding rare earth fluorides into a silica (or germania-doped silica) glasses comprises the following steps. The first step forms a porous silica core preform by OVD process. The second step submerges the preform into an aqueous solution of rare earth ions. The third step removes the preform from the solution and washes the outside surfaces of the preform. The fourth step submerges the preform into an aqueous solution of a fluorinating agent, such as ammonium bifluoride, HF or KF. Rare earth trifluorides precipitate out from the solution and deposit on the wall of pores. This is followed by drying.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for forming soot used in making glass, and in particular, optical waveguides. A liquid precursor (66) is first fed into orifice (52) of a liquid orifice insert (48) within an injector (44) positioned within an atomizing burner assembly, and is thereafter discharged from the injector into a pressurization chamber (56). An atomization gas (70) is also fed into the pressurization chamber (56) to mix with the liquid precursor liquid stream (68) which breaks into droplets (76). The liquid precursor and atomization gas are forced under pressure out of an atomization orifice (32) on the face of the burner (30) assembly. Flame gas (74), reaction gas (84) and shield gas (82) are ejected from burner orifices (40, 38, 36 and 34) to produce the flame. The atomized liquid precursor thus discharged is fed into the flame (72) produced at the face of the burner assembly where the atomized liquid precursor reacts with the flame to form soot (78) on a rotating mandrel (80).
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing a glass preform which is pure enough to be applicable to optical uses such as optical fibers and optical devices, and allows an alkali metal oxide or an alkali earth metal oxide to be introduced in a controlled addition concentration.SOLUTION: Porous silica glass 12 is contained in a closed heating furnace 11 together with an alkali metal compound or an alkali earth metal compound 16. The silica glass 12 is doped with an alkali metal oxide or an alkali earth metal oxide by maintaining a temperature not lower than the melting point of the alkali metal compound or the alkali earth metal compound and not higher than a temperature to cause the silica glass 12 to crystallize within a doping time so that the alkali metal compound or the alkali earth metal compound reach a vapor-liquid equilibrium condition on the surface of the silica glass 12. Then, the silica glass 12 is sintered and turned into a transparent body by maintaining the temperature not higher than a temperature to cause the silica glass 12 to crystallize within the sintering time in the heating furnace 11 to form transparent glass.