Simultaneous thermal forming of ferrule and optical fiber in a ferrule assembly to thermally form an optical surface in the ferrule assembly, and related fiber optic components, fiber connectors, assemblies, and methods

A ferrule assembly for a fiber optic connector, comprising:

• a ferrule comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end along an optical axis, a ferrule bore extending between a first opening of the first end and a second opening of the second end, and an end face disposed at the second end, at least a portion of the end face absorptive to at least one wavelength;
• an optical fiber absorptive to the at least one wavelength, the optical fiber disposed in the ferrule bore of the ferrule, wherein an end portion of the optical fiber extends from the end face of the ferrule;
• and
• an optical surface formed by thermally forming both at least a portion of the end face of the ferrule and the end portion of the optical fiber by simultaneously exposing the end face of the ferrule and the end portion of the optical fiber to a laser beam of the at least one wavelength emitted by a laser;
• wherein the ferrule comprises an absorption gradient of ferrule material at the at least one wavelength disposed along a radial axis of the ferrule between an outer perimeter of the ferrule and an inner portion of the ferrule.