Method and apparatus for forming fibre optic attenuators with spectral response independent of the wavelength

摘要

A fibre optic attenuator (201) with spectral response independent of the incident radiation wavelength is formed by a method comprising a controlled series of compressive stressing and subsequent relaxation, or of relaxation alone, of the core of an optical fibre (30) (which can be of standard type or special type), which is simultaneously softened by local heating produced by a heat source. The application of further heating, in the absence of mechanical stressing of the deformed optical fibre (30), facilitates the attainment of the required attenuation.