PROCESS FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL FIBER BASE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

A process for producing an optical fiber base and an apparatus for the process. The phenomenon in which a large loss is caused especially in the region of short wavelengths of 1,310 nm and shorter can be inhibited from occurring. The process for optical fiber base production is characterized by comprising: a porous glass base formation step in which fine glass particles are deposited to form a porous glass base; a vessel preparation step in which a vessel made of a synthetic quartz glass is prepared by forming a melt of a soot deposit obtained by hydrolyzing a silicon compound with an oxyhydrogen flame and depositing the resultant fine glass particles; a gas introduction step in which a dehydrated reactant gas and an inert gas are introduced into the vessel; a heating step in which the vessel into which the dehydrated reactant gas and inert gas have been introduced is heated; and a dehydrating sintering step in which the porous glass base is inserted into the heated vessel and then dehydrated and sintered.