Abstract:
The present invention is directed to methods of producing soot used in the manufacture of optical waveguides. Both non-aqueous liquid reactants and aqueous solutions containing one or more salts are delivered through an atomizing burner assembly to form a homogenous soot stream containing the oxides of the selected elements contained within the non-aqueous liquid reactant and the aqueous solution. The resulting multi-component soot is collected by conventional methods to form preforms used in the manufacture of optical waveguide fibers. Alternatively, an aqueous solution may be atomized with a gas at a first burner assembly to form an aerosol and a reactant vaporized for delivery to a second burner assembly. Preforms produced by the methods are also disclosed. The aqueous solution is preferably one comprising a metal salt, e.g. acetate, nitrate, sulfate, carbonate, chloride, hydroxide. The metal of the metal salt is preferably an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, lead, lanthanum, cobalt, antimony, erbium, aluminum, neodymium, praeseodymium.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a dispersion compensating optical fiber that includes a core surrounded by a cladding layer of refractive index nCL. The core includes at least three radially adjacent regions, a central core region, a moat region having a refractive index nM that is sufficiently lower than nCL such that .DELTA.M
Abstract:
A pulse-reshaping optical fiber having a core with refractive index nc surrounded by a cladding layer, the diameter of the core changing monotonically along the length of the fiber. The core includes a central region having a maximum refractive index n1 and a moat region disposed radially adjacent to the central region. The moat region has a minimum refractive index n2 which is sufficiently low that the index delta .DELTA.2 of the moat region with respect to nc is not greater than 0.1 %. The moat regio n affects the change in dispersion with respect to fiber cladding diameter, as well as providing the pulse-reshaping fiber with low dispersion versus wavelength slope. The pulse-reshaping fiber is particularly useful in association with optical transmission systems where high transmission rates and narrow pulse widths are desired, including components such as high pulse rate wavelentgh-division-multiplexers (WDMs) and optical regenerators.
Abstract:
The optical fiber alternates between regions having different dia meters along its length, wherein the refractive index and the diameters of said fiber result in alternating regions of positive and negative dispersion at a wavelength greater than 1480 nm, yet preferably has a low net dispersion and dispersion slope. A preferred profile consists of a core region surrounded by a cladding region, said core region comprising a central core region updoped with respect to said cladding region, said central core region surrounded by a moat region downdoped with respect to said cladding region, said moat region surrounded by an annular region updoped with respect to said cladding region. The family of profiles presented when used in conjunction with alternating positive and negative dispersion regions produce low dispersion slope fibers. The family of profiles is useful in conventional WDM applications.
Abstract:
Disclosed are refractive index profiles for total dispersion compensating optical waveguide fibers for use in high data rate, long length telecommunications systems. The optical waveguide fibers in accord with the invention provide substantially equal compensation of total dispersion over a range of wavelengths, thus facilitating wavelength division multiplexed systems. Also disclosed are spans of optical waveguide fiber that include a length of transmission fiber together with a length of the compensating fiber. The spans are joined end to end in series arrangement to form the optical waveguide fiber part of a telecommunication system.
Abstract:
An apparatus for transporting an optical signal is provided comprising at least two sections of optical fiber, a directional wavelength selector positioned between the at least two sections of optical fiber wherein the directional wavelength selector selectively blocks wavelengths propagating in a reverse direction, and a pump light emitting device optically coupled to the optical fiber.