Methods for splicing optical fibers

A method for splicing optical fibers, the method comprising:

• aligning the cores of a first optical fiber and second optical fiber to be spliced together such that the cores are both generally concentric along a longitudinal axis, wherein a maximum outer diameter of an end portion of the second optical fiber is less than a maximum outer diameter of an end portion of the first optical fiber, and wherein the first optical fiber is a fluoride optical fiber and the second optical fiber is a silica optical fiber, and wherein after aligning the cores a gap is defined along the longitudinal axis between the end portions of the first end second optical fibers;
• heating the end portions of the first and second optical fibers to between 175 and 325 degrees Celsius;
• moving, during the heating step, at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber along the longitudinal axis such that the end portion of the second optical fiber protrudes into the end portion of the first optical fiber;
• discontinuing heating of the end portions of the first and second optical fibers;
• and
• continuing moving the at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber after discontinuing heating.