Holey optical fiber with random pattern of holes and method for making same
First Claim
1. A method for making a random hole optical fiber, comprising the steps of:
- heating a fiber preform containing a gas generating material that generates gas bubbles when heated; and
drawing the heated fiber preform so that the bubbles are drawn into tubes wherein said step of drawing comprises forming;
a core composed of a glass of a refractive index; and
a cladding region composed of the same glass of the same refractive index, wherein the cladding region contains tubes which are random in diameter, length and radial position within the cladding region, and wherein the tubes taper on the ends.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for making a random hole optical fiber, comprising the steps of:
-
heating a fiber preform containing a gas generating material that generates gas bubbles when heated; and drawing the heated fiber preform so that the bubbles are drawn into tubes wherein said step of drawing comprises forming; a core composed of a glass of a refractive index; and a cladding region composed of the same glass of the same refractive index, wherein the cladding region contains tubes which are random in diameter, length and radial position within the cladding region, and wherein the tubes taper on the ends. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification