LARGE EFFECTIVE AREA WAVEGUIDE FIBER

摘要

Disclosed is a single mode optical waveguide fiber having a segmented core in which the central segment is a void (16). The shape and radial extent of the core segments are selected to provide a low dispersion slope together with large effective area and good bend resistance. Embodiments of the refractive index profiles in accord with the invention are shown having two or three annular segments (2, 6, 8) surrounding the central void. The presence of the void provides the benefits of a negative relative index located centrally in the core region without the process difficulties associated with the use of dopants that decrease the refractive index of the waveguide fiber.