METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING PREFORMS FOR HOLEY OPTICAL FIBERS

摘要

A method of producing a preform for a holey optical fiber having at least one hole longitudinally extending therethrough. A porous preform, such as a glass soot preform, is formed by means of flame hydrolysis, or a gel preform; at least one hole is then formed by drilling the porous preform, the hole extending through the porous preform along the longitudinal direction thereof. A holey fiber can be produced by drawing the holey porous preform, after having submitted it to a consolidation process.