Method and apparatus for fusion welding quartz using laser energy

A method for fusion welding a first quartz object to a second quartz object, comprising:

• applying laser energy to a first surface on the first quartz object, the first surface being placed proximate to and substantially near a second surface on the second quartz object;
• transferring the laser energy from the first surface to the second surface when the first surface reaches a reflective state;
• heating the second surface to the reflective state;
• and
• causing the first surface and the second surface to contact each other to form a fusion weld between the first quartz object and the second quartz object.

A method for fusion welding a first quartz object to a second quartz object, comprising the steps of:

• creating a pre-weld configuration of the first quartz object and the second object by placing a first surface of the first quartz object proximately to and substantially near an opposing surface of the second quartz object to form a channel between the first surface and the opposing surface;
• aligning a source of laser energy to provide the laser energy to the first surface within the channel;
• applying the laser energy to the first surface within the channel;
• repeatedly reflecting the laser energy between the first surface and the opposing surface in the channel to cause substantially even heating of the first surface and the second surface as the laser energy is distributed along a length of the channel;
• and
• causing the first surface and opposing surface to molecularly fuse and form a fusion weld in place of the channel.