| 摘要 |
An index-guiding optical fiber having a plurality of elongated void regions in the core and cladding is described. The void regions are preferably filled with air, vacuum, or an inert gas. The percentage of void area in the core region is less than in the cladding region, whereby the cladding region has a lower effective index of refraction than the core region, allowing for propagation of light waves by an index-guiding effect. Because the light waves "see" less glass material as they propagate down the longitudinal axis of the fiber, there is increased transmission efficiency. Individual microstructural features in the core and cladding are kept very small as compared to the wavelength of the light being transmitted. This results in more uniformly distributed refractive indices, and also provides for increased durability and robustness against external bending, pinching, or squeezing of the optical fiber. Air voids are intermittently sealed off along the longitude of the fiber to prevent capillary-effect flooding in the event of accidental introduction of water, water vapor, or other fluid into the fiber.
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