METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL FIBER BY USING IMPROVED OXYGEN STOICHIOMETRY AND DEUTERIUM EXPOSURE

摘要

PURPOSE: Provided are a method and an apparatus for producing optical fiber which has reduced hydrogen aging loss that occurs during the lifetime of the fiber by using improved oxygen stoichiometry and deuterium exposure. CONSTITUTION: The method for producing the optical fiber includes the steps of: forming a glass core rod by soot deposition, the glass core rod having a core region surrounded by a cladding region; dehydrating the glass core rod in a first environment including oxygen alone or with at least one of chlorine-containing gases, fluorine-containing gases and carbon monoxide, wherein the first environment is neither oxygen-rich nor oxygen-deficient; consolidating the glass core rod; forming an overclad region around the glass core rod to form an overclad optical fiber preform; drawing fiber from the overclad optical fiber preform; and exposing the drawn optical fiber to an atmosphere containing deuterium.