Method and apparatus for fabrication of metal-coated optical fiber, and the resulting optical fiber

An optical fiber comprising:

• a glass fiber including a core and a cladding;
• a multi-layer metal coating comprising a first layer of copper, a second layer of copper, and a third layer of nickel, said first layer being applied through an electroless process and said second layer and said third layer being applied through respective electrolytic processes.

An optical fiber comprising:

• a glass fiber including a core and a cladding;
• a multi-layer metal coating comprising a first layer of first metal, a second layer of said first metal, and a third layer of a second metal, said first layer being applied through an electroless process and said second layer and said third layer being applied through respective electrolytic processes, such that a combined thickness of said first layer and said second layer is at least about 5 microns and a thickness of said third layer is at least about 0.5 microns.