Abstract:
PURPOSE:To obtain an optical fiber propagating infrared rays of long wave length having neither toxicity nor deliquescence, by specifying the composition of fluoride glass, by making glass preparation of quenching to =20min. All the treatment is completely evaporated, the oxide impurity and water in the raw material are removed during the treatment, and the absorption loss of the optical fiber and the absorption loss by OH are reduced. The raw material is then heated at >= its melting point and melted, passed through the platinum nozzle 2, introduced to the hollow cylindrical container 5 rotating at a speed of >=5rpm. kept at a temperature
Abstract:
Aspects of the embodiments are directed to systems and methods for forming an optical fiber in a low gravity environment, and an optical fiber formed in a low gravity environment. The system can include a preform holder configured to secure a preform; a heating element secured to a heating element stage and residing adjacent the preform holder; a heating element stage motor configured to move the heating element stage; a tension sensor; a spool; a spool tension motor coupled to the spool and configured to rotate the spool; and a control system communicably coupled to the heating element stage motor and the spool tension motor and configured to control the movement of the heating element stage based on a rotational speed of the spool. The optical fiber can include a fluoride composition, such ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF (ZBLAN), and can be characterized by an insertion loss in a range from 13 dB/1000 km to 120 dB/1000 km.
Abstract:
Optical fibers with previously unattainable characteristics and the method of producing the same are disclosed and claimed herein. Specifically, the application discloses and claims a method to produce ZBLAN, Indium Fluoride, Germanate and Chalcogenide optical fibers and other similar optical fibers in a microgravity environment. The resulting optical fibers have unique molecular structures not attainable when optical fibers with the identical chemical composition are produced in a standard 1 gravity environment.The method of the invention requires a novel draw tower and modified preform, which are specifically designed to operate in microgravity environments. A lead wire is inserted into the preform that, when wound onto a spool in the draw tower, causes a fiber to form. The pull rate of the lead wire controls the diameter of the fiber.
Abstract:
Optical devices and a method for manufacturing these devices. One optical device includes a core region having a first medium of a first refractive index n1, and includes a cladding region exterior to the core region. The cladding region includes a second medium having a second refractive index n2 higher than the first refractive index n1. The cladding region further includes a third medium having a third refractive index n3 lower than the first refractive index n1. The third medium is dispersed in the second medium to form a plurality of microstructures in the cladding region. Another optical device includes a plurality of core regions including at least one core having a doped first medium, and includes a cladding region exterior to the plurality of core regions. The core regions and the cladding region include a phosphate glass.
Abstract:
Various embodiments of optical fiber designs and fabrication processes for ultra small core fibers (USCF) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the USCF includes a core that is at least partially surrounded by a region comprising first features. The USCF further includes a second region at least partially surrounding the first region. The second region includes second features. In an embodiment, the first features are smaller than the second features, and the second features have a filling fraction greater than about 90 percent. The first features and/or the second features may include air holes. Embodiments of the USCF may provide dispersion tailoring. Embodiments of the USCF may be used with nonlinear optical devices configured to provide, for example, a frequency comb or a supercontinuum.
Abstract:
Various embodiments of optical fiber designs and fabrication processes for ultra small core fibers (USCF) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the USCF includes a core that is at least partially surrounded by a region comprising first features. The USCF further includes a second region at least partially surrounding the first region. The second region includes second features. In an embodiment, the first features are smaller than the second features, and the second features have a filling fraction greater than about 90 percent. The first features and/or the second features may include air holes. Embodiments of the USCF may provide dispersion tailoring. Embodiments of the USCF may be used with nonlinear optical devices configured to provide, for example, a frequency comb or a supercontinuum.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber preform, the method comprising: providing a substantially elongated core preform made out of a core fluorinated glass; providing a substantially elongated and substantially tubular cladding preform made out of a cladding fluorinated glass, the cladding preform defining a bore extending substantially longitudinally therethrough; inserting the core preform into the bore of the cladding preform; fusing the core preform and the cladding preform to each other to produce an intermediate preform; heating the intermediate preform up to a stretching temperature, the stretching temperature being such that the core and cladding fluorinated glasses both have a viscosity of between 10−7 and 10−9 Pa s at the stretching temperature; stretching the intermediate preform at the stretching temperature to produce a stretched intermediate preform; and cutting a section of the stretched intermediate preform. Typically, the stretching temperature is between a vitreous transition temperature and a crystallization temperature of the core and cladding glasses.
Abstract:
Improved photonic band-gap optical fibre The present invention relates in particular to improved photonic band-gap optical fibres that can confine light to a core region of the fibre by the action of both a photonic band-gap cladding and an antiresonant core boundary, at the interface between the core and cladding. According to embodiments of the present invention, a fibre has a core, comprising an elongate region of relatively low refractive index, a photonic bandgap structure arranged to provide a photonic bandgap over a range of wavelengths of light including an operating wavelength of light, the structure, in a transverse cross section of the waveguide, surrounding the core and comprising elongate relatively low refractive index regions interspersed with elongate relatively high refractive index regions and a relatively high refractive index boundary at the interface between the core defect and the photonic bandgap structure, the boundary having a thickness around the core such that the boundary is substantially anti-resonant at the operating wavelength of the fibre. In preferred embodiments, the core boundary is a relatively constant thickness region of glass around a hollow core.
Abstract:
In one aspect, the invention features a fiber waveguide having a waveguide axis, including a first portion extending along the waveguide axis, and a second portion different from the first portion extending along the waveguide axis surrounding the first portion, wherein at least one of the first and second portions comprises a chalcogenide glass selected from the group consisting of Selenium chalcogenide glasses and Tellurium chalcogenide glasses, both the first and second portions have a viscosity greater than 103 Poise at some temperature, T, and the fiber waveguide is a photonic crystal fiber.
Abstract:
The invention provides a monomode preform (2) comprising a mother preform (22) housed in an outer sleeve tube (20). It is characterized in that it also includes an intermediate tube (21) between the mother preform (22) and said outer tube (20), the intermediate tube (21) possessing viscosity at fiber-drawing temperature which is less than the viscosity(ies) at fiber-drawing temperature of said mother preform (22) and of said outer tube (20). The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a monomode optical fiber. The fiber has a core that is better centered and less deformed than in the prior art. An application of the invention lies in making an optical amplifier.