Method of making an optical fiber or preform having a reduced hydrogen content
AssigneeJDS Uniphase Corporation
InventorRichard P. Tumminelli
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Abstract
The invention provides a method of making an optical fiber preform using a modified chemical vapor deposition process by flowing glass precursor gases through a preform tube for depositing glass material therein, and simultaneously flowing heavy water vapors through the preform tube for incorporating deuteroxyl groups into the glass material. Then, the preform tube is controllably heated so as to effect a collapse of the preform tube into a rod. Advantageously, optical fibers drawn from such preforms have an increased resistance to hydrogen and will not require passivation.
Claims20
A method of making an optical fiber preform comprising the steps of:
- a) flowing glass precursor gases through a preform tube for depositing glass material therein;
- and
- b) simultaneously flowing heavy water (D2O) vapors through the preform tube for incorporating deuteroxyl groups (OD) into the glass material.
A method of making an optical fiber having a reduced hydrogen content comprising the steps of:
- a) forming an optical fiber preform comprising the steps of:
- i) depositing glass material in a preform tube by flowing glass precursor gases therethrough using a first carrier gas;
- and
- ii) simultaneously incorporating deuterium into the glass material by flowing heavy water vapors (D2O) through the preform tube using a second carrier gas;
- and
- b) drawing said optical fiber preform into an optical fiber.
A method of making an optical fiber preform having a reduced amount of hydroxyl groups (OH) for reducing hydrogen induced losses comprising the steps of:
- depositing glass material in a preform tube by flowing glass precursor gases therethrough;
- exchanging at least a portion of hydroxyl groups of the glass material with deuteroxyl groups by flowing heavy water vapors through the preform tube;
- and
- heating the preform tube in a controlled manner so as to effect a collapse of the preform tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.