Methods and apparatus for forming heat treated optical fiber

摘要

A method for forming an optical fiber includes drawing the optical fiber from a glass supply and treating the fiber by maintaining the optical fiber within a treatment temperature range for a treatment time. Preferably also, the fiber is cooled at a specified cooling rate. The optical fiber treatment reduces the tendency of the optical fiber to increase in attenuation due to Rayleigh scattering, and/or over time following formation of the optical fiber due to heat aging. Apparatus are also provided.