Abstract:
An optical fiber having a length can include a core and at least one cladding disposed about the core, where the one cladding can comprise at least first volumetric regions having a first refractive index n1 and second volumetric regions having a second refractive index n2, different from n1, and the first and second volumetric regions in any cross-section taken through the fiber can be randomly intermingled with one another, where the random intermingling of the first and second volumetric regions changes with changes in the location of the cross-section along the length of the fiber.
Abstract:
In a method of manufacturing a preform for a nonoxide glass fiber, cladding and core glass materials are placed in a cylinder of an extrusion apparatus such that ground end faces of the respective cladding and core glass materials are in contact with each other and such that the cladding glass material is located adjacent a molding section of the extrusion apparatus. The cladding and core glass materials are heated within inert-gas atmosphere, to their respective temperatures equal to or below their respective sag points and equal to or above their respective crystallization start temperatures. An extrusion punch of the extrusion apparatus is pushed within the atmosphere, to extrude the cladding and core glass materials through a molding nozzle in the molding section while the cladding and core glass materials are in fusible contact with each other, thereby forming the preform of a core and cladding structure. The preform is gradually cooled within a liner connected to the molding section within the atmosphere. Alternatively, an over-cladding glass material may be placed in the cylinder such that the over-cladding material is located adjacent the molding section, and the cladding glass material is located between the over-cladding and core glass materials.
Abstract:
In one aspect, a method is provided for molding from glass complex optical components such as lenses, microlens, arrays of microlenses, and gratings or surface-relief diffusers having fine or hyperfine microstructures suitable for optical or electro-optical applications. Thereby, molds are used, which define the profile of the optical components, made on metal alloys, particularly titanium or nickel alloys, or refractory compositions, with or without a non-reactive coating are provided. Given that molding optical components from oxide glasses has numerous drawbacks, it has been discovered in accordance with the invention that non-oxide glasses substantially eliminates these drawbacks. The non-oxide glasses, such as chalcogenide, chalcohalide, and halide glasses, may be used in the mold either in bulk, planar, or power forms. In the mold, the glass is heated to about 10-110°C, preferably about 50°C, above its transition temperature (Tg), at which temperature the glass has a viscosity that permits it to flow and conform exactly to the pattern of the mold.
Abstract:
A method of applying a coating material to a substrate, the method comprises the steps of: contacting an undersurface of the substrate with molten coating material; and after removing the substrate from the molten coating material, spinning the substrate.
Abstract:
A photonic band gap fiber and method of making thereof is provided. The fiber is made of a non-silica-based glass and has a longitudinal central opening, a microstructured region having a plurality of longitudinal surrounding openings, and a jacket. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is at least about 40%. The fiber may be made by drawing a preform into a fiber, while applying gas pressure to the microstructured region. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is changed during the drawing.
Abstract:
To overcome problems of fabricating conventional core-clad optical fibre from non-silica based (compound) glass, it is proposed to fabricate non-silica based (compound) glass optical fibre as holey fibre i.e. one contining Longitudinal holes in the cladding. This removes the conventional problems associated with mismatch of the physical properties of the core and clad compound glasses, since a holey fibre can be made of a single glass composition. With a holey fibre, it is not necessary to have different glasses for the core and cladding, since the necessary refractive index modulation between core and cladding is provided by the microstructure of the clad, i.e. its holes, rather than by a difference in materials properties between the clad and core glasses. Specifically, the conventional thermal mismatch problems between core and clad are circumvented. A variety of fibre types can be fabricated from non-silica based (compounds) glasses, for example: single-mode fibre; photonic band gap fibre; highly non-linear fibre; fibre with photosensitivity written gratings and other refractive index profile structures; and rare-earth doped fibres (e.g. Er, Nd, Pr) to provide gain media for fibre amplifiers and lasers.
Abstract:
In a method of manufacturing a preform for a nonoxide glass fiber, cladding and core glass materials are placed in a cylinder of an extrusion apparatus such that ground end faces of the respective cladding and core glass materials are in contact with each other and such that the cladding glass material is located adjacent a molding section of the extrusion apparatus. The cladding and core glass materials are heated within inert-gas atmosphere, to their respective temperatures equal to or below their respective sag points and equal to or above their respective crystallization start temperatures. An extrusion punch of the extrusion apparatus is pushed within the atmosphere, to extrude the cladding and core glass materials through a molding nozzle in the molding section while the cladding and core glass materials are in fusible contact with each other, thereby forming the preform of a core and cladding structure. The preform is gradually cooled within a liner connected to the molding section within the atmosphere. Alternatively, an over-cladding glass material may be placed in the cylinder such that the over-cladding material is located adjacent the molding section, and the cladding glass material is located between the over-cladding and core glass materials.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for molding glass complex optical components such as lenses, microlens, arrays of microlenses, and gratings or surface-relief diffusers having fine or hyperfine microstructures. SOLUTION: Mold masters or patterns, which define the profile of the optical components, made on a metal array, particularly titanium or nickel alloys, or refractory compositions, with or without a non-reactive coating are provided. The non-oxide glasses, such as chalcogenide glasses, chalcohalide glasses, and halide glasses, are used in the mold either in bulk, planar, or powder forms. In the mold, the glass is heated to about 10-110°C, preferably about 50°C, above its transition temperature (Tg), at which temperature the glass has a viscosity that permits it to flow and conform exactly to the pattern of the mold. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT