Optical fiber systems and methods
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorsRobert R. Rice, John Ballato, Hacop Injeyan, Hiroshi Komine, Michael G. Wickham
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Abstract
One embodiment of the invention includes a method for forming an optical fiber. The method comprises providing a preform having a core material and a glass cladding material surrounding the core material. The method also comprises drawing the preform at a temperature that is greater than a melting temperature of the core material to form a drawn fiber. The method further comprises cooling the drawn fiber to form the optical fiber having a crystalline fiber core and a cladding that surrounds the crystalline fiber core and extends axially along a length of the crystalline fiber core.
Claims25
A method of forming an optical fiber, the method comprising:
- providing a preform having a semiconductor core material and a glass cladding material surrounding the semiconductor core material;
- drawing the preform at a temperature that is greater than a melting temperature of the semiconductor core material to form a drawn fiber;
- and
- cooling the drawn fiber from a molten state to spontaneously crystallize the semiconductor core material to form the optical fiber having a crystalline semiconductor fiber core and a cladding that surrounds the crystalline fiber semiconductor core and extends axially along a length of the crystalline semiconductor fiber core.
A method of forming an optical fiber, the method comprising:
- providing a preform having a silicon core material and a silica glass cladding material surrounding the silicon core material;
- drawing the preform at a temperature that is greater than a melting temperature of the silicon core material to form a drawn fiber, the temperature being greater than approximately 1414° C. and less than approximately 2000° C.;
- and
- cooling the drawn fiber from a molten state to spontaneously crystallize the silicon core material to form the optical fiber having a crystalline silicon fiber core and a silica glass cladding that surrounds the crystalline silicon fiber core and extends axially along a length of the crystalline silicon fiber core.
A method of forming an optical fiber, the method comprising:
- providing a preform having a germanium core material and a borosilicate glass cladding material surrounding the germanium core material;
- drawing the preform at a temperature that is greater than a melting temperature of the germanium core material to form a drawn fiber, the temperature being greater than approximately 937° C. and less than approximately 1000° C.;
- and
- cooling the drawn fiber from a molten state to spontaneously crystallize the germanium core material to form the optical fiber having a crystalline germanium fiber core and a borosilicate glass cladding that surrounds the crystalline germanium fiber core and extends axially along a length of the crystalline germanium fiber core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.