公开(公告)号：EP1456695A4

公开(公告)日：2006-07-19

申请号：EP02787033

申请日：2002-12-11

Applicant: CORNING INC

Inventor： ALLAN DOUGLAS C ,  BROWN JOHN T ,  CHACON LISA C ,  ELLISON ADAM J G ,  FAJARDO JAMES C ,  GRAY STUART ,  HOUSE KEITH L ,  KOCH KARL W III ,  POWERS DALE R ,  WEST JAMES A

IPC: G02B6/00 ,  C03B37/014 ,  C03B37/018 ,  C03C13/04 ,  G02B6/02 ,  G02B6/036 ,  G02F1/35 ,  G02B1/00

CPC classification number: C03C13/045 ,  C03B37/01413 ,  C03B37/01446 ,  C03B37/01807 ,  C03B37/01823 ,  C03B37/01853 ,  C03B2201/20 ,  C03B2201/22 ,  C03B2201/31 ,  C03B2203/22 ,  C03B2207/30 ,  C03B2207/36 ,  C03C4/0042 ,  C03C13/046 ,  G02B6/02 ,  G02B6/02228 ,  G02B6/02271 ,  G02B6/03644 ,  G02B6/03677 ,  G02B6/03694

Abstract: An isotopically-altered, silica based optical fiber is provided having lower losses, broader bandwidth, and broader Raman gain spectrum characteristics than conventional silica-based fiber. A heavier, less naturally abundant isotope of silicon or oxygen is substituted for a lighter, more naturally abundant isotope to shift the infrared absorption to a slightly longer wavelength. In one embodiment, oxygen-18 is substituted for the much more naturally abundant oxygen-16 at least in the core region of the fiber. The resulting isotopically-altered fiber has a minimum loss of 0.044 dB/km less than conventional fiber, and a bandwidth that is 17 percent broader for a loss range between 0.044-0.034 dB/km. The fiber may be easily manufactured with conventional fiber manufacturing equipment by way of a plasma chemical vapor deposition technique. When a 50 percent substitution of oxygen-18 for oxygen-16 is made in the core region of the fiber, the Raman gain spectrum is substantially broadened.