Methods and apparatus for forming a chlorine-doped optical waveguide preform

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide perform includes exposing a soot preform to an atmosphere including a chlorine-containing compound and thereby doping the soot preform with chlorine, wherein the absolute pressure of the atmosphere is greater than about 1.013×102 kPa. An apparatus for manufacturing an optical waveguide preform using a soot preform includes a furnace defining a chamber adapted to contain the soot preform and including a heating device operable to heat the chamber. A fluid control system is operable to provide an atmosphere including a chlorine-containing compound in the chamber at an absolute pressure of greater than about 1.013×102 kPa.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.