INDEX-MATCHING GEL FOR NANOSTRUCTURE OPTICAL FIBERS AND MECHANICAL SPLICE ASSEMBLY AND CONNECTOR USING SAME

摘要

A polymer based index-matching gel (100) for use with nanostructure optical fibers (112) is disclosed. The index-matching gel has at least one polymer component having a viscosity at 25 -C. The viscosity is between about 3 Pa-s. and about 100 Pa-s, which prevents the index-matching gel from wicking into the voids and down the nanostructure optical fiber to a depth where the fiber performance and/or device performance is compromised. The gel is suitable for use when mechanically splicing optical fibers when at least one of the optical fibers is a nanostructure optical fiber. The gel is also suitable for use in fiber optic connectors wherein at least one of the optical fibers constituting the connection is a nanostructure optical fiber.