Photonic band gap germanate glass fibers
OwnerShyam S. Bayya, Jasbinder S. Sanghera +2inventors
InventorsSHYAM S. BAYYA, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Leslie Brandon Shaw, Ishwar D. Aggarwal
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Abstract
A photonic band gap fiber and method of making thereof is provided. The fiber is made of a germanate glass comprising at least 30 mol % of a germanium oxide and has a longitudinal central opening, a microstructured region having a plurality of longitudinal surrounding openings, and a jacket. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is at least about 90%. The fiber may be made by drawing a preform into a fiber, while applying gas pressure to the microstructured region. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is changed during the drawing.
Claims18
A glass fiber, comprising:
- a fiber comprising at least 30 mol % of a germanium oxide;
- a longitudinal central opening in the fiber;
- a microstructured region in the fiber comprising a plurality of longitudinal openings disposed around the central opening;
- a jacket surrounding the microstructured region;
- wherein the air fill fraction of the microstructured region is at least about 90%.
A glass fiber, comprising:
- a fiber comprising at least 30 mol % of a germanium oxide;
- a longitudinal central opening in the fiber;
- a microstructured region in the fiber comprising a plurality of longitudinal openings disposed around the central opening;
- a jacket surrounding the microstructured region;
- wherein the air fill fraction of the microstructured region is at least about 90%;
- and
- wherein the fiber displays a photonic band gap inhibiting radial transmission of light having a wavelength in the range of approximately 2 μm and approximately 6 μm.
A method of making a fiber comprising the steps of:
- providing a glass preform comprising at least 30 mol % of a germanium oxide,
- wherein the glass preform comprises a longitudinal central opening and a microstructured region comprising a plurality of longitudinal openings disposed around the central opening;
- and
- pressurizing longitudinal openings with a gas;
- and
- drawing the glass preform into a fiber at an elevated temperature while maintaining the gas pressure to retain the longitudinal central opening and the microstructured region;
- wherein the air fill fraction of the microstructured region of the fiber is greater than approximately 90%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.