METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL FIBER

摘要

Filament in tube and stick in tube processes of forming optical fiber are described. A solid or monolithic core feedstock (110) is disposed in a hollo w cladding structure (112) to form a loosely filled cladding structure. The filled cladding structure is heated to a draw temperature approximately equa l to the softening temperature of the cladding structure. The feedstock (110) melts and fills the heated portion of the cladding structure forming a fille d core which can then be drawn into optical fiber or to an optical can which c an then be further overclad consolidated and drawn into fiber. Feedstock (110) and cladding structures (112) having widely varying coefficients of expansio n may be employed. The resulting fiber can be readily designed to be fused to existing installed fibers.