METHOD OF SPLICING AN OPTICAL FIBER WITH HOLES IN THE CLADDING

摘要

Methods are disclosed herein for joining a first optical fiber (2) and a second optical fiber (200), wherein at least one of the first and second optical fibers has an annular glass region, such as a cladding, which is provided with a plurality of holes. The methods are well suited for joining a first microstructured optical fiber, such as a first optical fiber having a plurality of holes having a maximum cross-sectional diameter on the order of 7 microns or less, to another second optical fiber. The second optical fiber could be another microstructured optical fiber or a non-microstructured optical fiber.