Fiber optic manufacturing in space
AssigneeFOMS Inc.
InventorsLeo Volfson, Dmitry Starodubov
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Abstract
Aspects of the embodiments include an optical fiber formed in a low gravity environment. The optical fiber can be used in airframe applications for missile defense, oil-field applications for down-well laser applications, optical communications, and other applications. The optical fiber can include a fluoride composition, such ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF (ZBLAN), and can be characterized by an insertion loss in a range from 13 dB/1000 km to 120 dB/1000 km. The optical fiber can deliver optical energy with low insertion loss at the desired power and wavelength for the various applications.
Claims13
A system for delivering optical energy through an optical fiber formed in a low gravity environment, the system comprising:
- a laser source;
- an optical aperture;
- and
- the optical fiber formed in the low gravity environment coupling the laser source to the optical aperture.
The system of claim 7, wherein the laser source is to emit laser light at a power in a range from 1 watt to 100 watts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.