METHOD OF MAKING AN OPTICAL FIBER PREFORM AND HANDLE FOR USE IN MAKING OF OPTICAL FIBER PREFORM

摘要

A method for forming an optical fiber preform is provided. The method includes inserting a glass core cane (511) into a glass sleeve (32) such that the glass sleeve (32) surrounds a portion of the glass core cane (511) and such that there is a gap between the glass sleeve and the portion of the glass core cane surrounded by the glass sleeve. The method further includes depositing silica soot (36) onto at least a portion of the glass core cane (511) and at least a portion of the glass sleeve (32) to form a silica soot preform (28), and flowing gas through the gap during processing of the silica soot preform, e.g. sintering. The processing time can be reduced. Alternatively the glass core can can be attached to a handle comprising a hollow interior portion connected to the exterior of the handle by at least one opening in the handle wall. Soot is deposited onto a portion of the core cane and a portion of the handle and gas is flowed through the opening during processsing of the silica soot preform.