US 2020/0024176 A1 · Viscocity-Reducing Dopants In Optical Fibers

Abstract

An optical preform manufacturing process is disclosed in which an alkali dopant is deposited between an optical fiber core rod and an optical fiber cladding jacket. Depositing the alkali dopant between the core rod and the cladding jacket permits diffusion of the alkali dopants into the core during fiber draw when the core and the cladding are at their respective transition (or vitrification) temperatures. Introduction of the alkali dopants between the core rod and the cladding jacket also permits decoupling of the alkali doping process from one or more of other optical preform manufacturing processes. The optical preform manufacturing process can also include placing alkali dopants between an optical fiber inner cladding jacket and an optical fiber outer cladding jacket to reduce the glass viscosity during fiber draw.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A manufacturing process for an optical preform, the optical preform for drawing an optical fiber therefrom, the optical fiber having a core radius (rcore), the optical fiber further having a cladding radius (rclad), the manufacturing process for the optical preform comprising:

depositing potassium bromide (KBr) inside an optical fiber inner cladding jacket, wherein depositing the KBr comprises:
heating an ampoule containing between two grams (2 g) and ten grams (10 g) of KBr to a temperature of between 700 Celsius (C) and 1,000 C;
and
passing a carrier through the heated ampoule at a rate of between 100 standard cubic centimeters per minute (SCCM) and 800 SCCM, the carrier being one selected from the group consisting of oxygen (O2) and helium (He);
and
collapsing the inner cladding jacket about a chlorine (Cl) doped core rod, the Cl-doped core rod comprising between 3,000 parts-per-million (ppm) Cl and 15,000 ppm Cl.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Viscocity-Reducing Dopants In Optical Fibers

Life of this patent

Viscocity-Reducing Dopants In Optical Fibers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25