Abstract:
A large optical preform [303] is made by a modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) process by depositing successive layers of core and cladding materials onto the inside surface of a rotating glass tube [33] having a hydroxyl ion (OH - ) level that is less than 0.5 parts per million (ppm) by weight. The tube is then collapsed inwardly to form a core rod [301] in which the deposited core material [31] has a diameter that is greater than about 5 millimeters and the deposited cladding material [32] has an outside diameter that is less than about 15 millimeters. Optionally a machine-vision system [140,150,160] monitors and controls the diameter of the glass tube by regulating the pressure within the tube; moreover, the machine-vision system monitors and controls the straightness of the tube by varying its rotational speed according to angular position. After the core rod [301] is formed, it may be plasma etched to remove contaminants, it is overclad with two glass jackets [34,35] having a hydroxyl ion (OH - ) level that is less than 1.0 ppm by weight thereby creating a large preform [303] from which about 400 kilometers of singlemode optical fiber can be drawn per meter of length of preform.