Abstract:
The specification describes an improved optical fiber produced by a hybrid VAD/MCVD process. The core of the fiber is produced using VAD and the inner cladding layer has a depressed index and is produced using MCVD. In preferred embodiments, the optical power envelope is essentially entirely contained in VAD produced core material and the MCVD produced depressed index cladding material. Optical loss is minimized by confining most of the optical power to the VAD core where OH presence is low, as well as by maximizing the optical power in the un-doped silica region. The MCVD substrate tube material is essentially devoid of optical power.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a preform for optical fibres, wherein deposition of glass-forming compounds on the substrate takes place. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for manufacturing optical fibres, wherein one end of a solid preform is heated, after which an optical fibre is drawn from said heated end.
Abstract:
The specification describes an improved optical fiber produced by a hybrid VAD/MCVD process. The core of the fiber is produced using VAD and the inner cladding layer has a depressed index and is produced using MCVD. In preferred embodiments, the optical power envelope is essentially entirely contained in VAD produced core material and the MCVD produced depressed index cladding material. Optical loss is minimized by confining most of the optical power to the VAD core where OH presence is low, as well as by maximizing the optical power in the un-doped silica region. The MCVD substrate tube material is essentially devoid of optical power.
Abstract:
The specification describes methods for the manufacture of very large optical fiber preforms wherein the core material is produced by MCVD. Previous limitations on preform size inherent in having the MCVD starting tube as part of the preform process are eliminated by removing the MCVD starting tube material from the collapsed MCVD rod by etching or mechanical grinding. Doped overcladding tubes are used to provide the outer segments of the refractive index profile thus making most effective use of the MCVD produced glass and allowing the production of significantly larger MCVD preforms than previously possible.
Abstract:
Known synthetic quartz glass tubes for the production of a preform have an inner bore with a surface layer produced without using tools in the molten state and an inner zone. The aim of the invention is to provide a tube which does not release any OH groups to the surroundings. For this purpose, the surface layer (30) has a thickness of 10 μm and an average OH content of not more than 5 ppm by weight and an average surface roughness Ra of not more than 0.1 μm. The inner zone (34) that starts on the surface layer (30) and terminates 10 μm before the outer wall has an average OH content of not more than 0.2 ppm by weight. A simple and inexpensive method for producing a quartz tube of the above type is to continuously draw a tube strand from a softened quartz glass mass in a vertical drawing process. A scavenging gas is circulated through the inner bore of the tube, said gas having a water content of less than 100 ppb per weight. The front end of the tube strand (19) is closed by a flow obstacle (26) that is permeable the scavenging gas and that reduces the amount of scavenging gas (23) flowing through.
Abstract:
A modified synthetic silica powder is produced by heating in vacuum an amorphous synthetic silica powder produced by a sol-gel process, and then cooling the heated silica powder in an atmosphere containing helium. When the modified synthetic silica powder is fused and vitrified in a process of crucible production, the resulting quartz glass crucible contains hardly any bubbles.
Abstract:
A method of making a fused silica plate includes providing a fused silica blank having a length, a longitudinal axis, and an outer diameter. The method further includes forming a slot in the fused silica blank which extends from the outer diameter to a location at or offset from a center of the fused silica blank and is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fused silica blank. The slot is defined by a concave surface located at or offset from the center of the fused silica blank, a first side surface extending between a first edge of the concave surface and the outer diameter of the fused silica blank, and a second side surface extending between a second edge of the concave surface and the outer diameter of the fused silica blank. At least one of the first and second side surfaces are connected to the concave surface by a chamfered surface. The method further includes rolling out the fused silica blank having the slot to form a fused silica plate.
Abstract:
A method of forming an alkali metal oxide-doped optical fiber by diffusing an alkali metal into a surface of a glass article is disclosed. The silica glass article may be in the form of a tube or a rod, or a collection of tubes or rods. The silica glass article containing the alkali metal, and impurities that may have been unintentionally diffused into the glass article, is etched to a depth sufficient to remove the impurities. The silica glass article may be further processed to form a complete optical fiber preform. The preform, when drawn into an optical fiber, exhibits a low attenuation.
Abstract:
The invention provides a process for producing a synthetic quartz glass, comprising: (a) depositing fine quartz glass particles synthesized by flame hydrolysis of a glass-forming material, on a substrate, to form a porous quartz glass base; (b) presintering the porous quartz glass base; (c) heat-treating the presintered porous quartz glass base by holding it under vacuum at a temperature in the range of from 1,100° C. to below the vitrification temperature for a certain time period; and (d) heating the thus heat-treated porous quartz glass base to a temperature not lower than the vitrification temperature to obtain a synthetic quartz glass. According to the process for synthetic quartz glass production of the invention, a synthetic quartz glass having a reduced OH group amount and a uniform OH group concentration can be obtained. From the synthetic quartz glass, an optical member having excellent optical properties can be obtained.