Methods and apparatus using fluorescent emissions to determine concentration of material in object
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorAlan P. Quinn
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Abstract
A method and apparatus determine a concentration of dopant in soot that constitutes at least a portion of a soot preform used to form an optical waveguide. The soot is irradiated with photons, X-ray fluorescent emissions from the irradiated soot are detected, and the concentration of dopant is determined based on the detected X-ray fluorescent emissions. Additionally, the concentration of dopant in layers of soot on the soot preform can be individually determined. Furthermore, the manufacture of the soot preform can be controlled by utilizing the detected X-ray fluorescent emissions to determine a deviation between a concentration of dopant in the soot and a predetermined concentration, and adjusting deposition conditions based on the deviation.
Claims11
A method of determining a concentration of dopant in soot that constitutes at least a portion of a soot preform used to form an optical waveguide, the method comprising the steps of:
- irradiating the soot with photons;
- detecting X-ray fluorescent emissions from the irradiated soot;
- and
- determining the concentration of dopant based on the detected X-ray fluorescent emissions.
A method of controlling the manufacture of a soot preform used to form an optical waveguide, the method comprising the steps of:
- depositing soot on the soot preform;
- irradiating the soot with photons;
- detecting X-ray fluorescent emissions from the irradiated soot;
- utilizing the detected X-ray fluorescent emissions to determine a deviation between a concentration of dopant in the soot and a predetermined concentration;
- and
- depositing additional soot on the soot preform under deposition conditions adjusted based on the deviation.
An apparatus for determining dopant concentration in soot that constitutes at least a portion of a soot preform used to form an optical waveguide, the apparatus comprising:
- a photon source that irradiates the soot with photons;
- a fluorescence sensor that detects X-ray fluorescent emissions from the irradiated soot;
- and
- a determination device that determines a concentration of dopant in the soot based on the detected X-ray fluorescent emissions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.