SILICA GLASS OPTICAL COMPONENT AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

摘要

An optical component and a method of making the same are provided. In one embodiment, the optical component is a low-OH optical fiber that includes a core and a cladding. The optical component is treated by immersion in a hydrogen gas atmosphere at a predetermined pressure, at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time period such that intrinsic and impurity defects of the optical component are destroyed. The method of making the optical component includes providing a preform having a content of OH-groups in the amount of about 0.1 to about 10.0 ppm and a content of chlorine in the amount of 0 to about 1000 ppm and drawing the preform to elongate it to form an optical component from the preform. The optical component is immersed in a hydrogen gas atmosphere at a predetermined pressure, at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time period that is sufficient to destroy intrinsic and impurity defects of the optical component.