METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF OPTICAL FIBRES

摘要

A continuous optical fibre for telecommunications is made with a refractive index which can be graded radially and/or lengthwise by continuously and repeatedly depositing vitreous or vitrifiable raw material onto the end of a rod, doping the material in a desired pattern by ion implantation such as to fuse the material at least partially, fusion being optionally completed by electron beam bombardment, and advancing the rod as it is built up into a zone in which it is drawn into a continuous fibre, the rod being optionally subjected to further treatments as it is advanced.