Abstract: A method of laser fusing an optical fiber to a silica element, such as another optical fiber or other, wherein the optical fiber is laterally fused to the silica element. The silica element may be another optical fiber or any other optical component.

Abstract: Laser light splicing of optical fibers with laser light outside of the peak absorption band of the optical fibers, for example splicing of silica optical fibers at wavelengths smaller than about 9 ?m. In some variants, the product of the absorption coefficient at ambient temperature of the optical fibers at the wavelength of the laser light with the power of the laser light is smaller than the product of the peak absorption coefficient at ambient temperature in the absorption band by the power required to splice the optical fibers with light at the peak absorption.