Abstract: In the manufacture of optical fibers according to the PCVD method, a method is provided wherein the yield of the method (.eta.), in particular at increased deposition rates (m), is raised by reducing the geometrical taper, without forming optical tapers. This is obtained in that glass is deposited in layers on the inside of a glass tube and, simultaneously, on a glass rod having a circular cross-section, which rod is arranged inside the glass tube, such that its longitudinal axis coincides with that of the glass tube, the radius of the glass rod being adjusted to at most 0.67 times and at least 0.2 times the inner radius of the glass tube, and the glass rod being removed from the glass tube upon completion of the deposition process.

Abstract: Polarization-retaining optical fibres are manufactured according to the PCVD method, in which on the inside of a glass tube and, simultaneously on at least two glass rods which are arranged inside the glass tube such that their longitudinal axes run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the glass tube, glass is deposited in layers and the glass rods are removed from the glass tube upon completion of the glass deposition process. Alternatively, a single glass rod, the radial dimensions of which in two mutually perpendicular directions are in a ratio unequal to one, i.e. elliptical, is arranged in a glass tube such that its longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the glass tube.

Abstract: Polarization-retaining optical fibres are manufactured according to the PCVD method, in which on the inside of a glass tube (1) and, simultaneously on at least two glass rods (2, 3) which are arranged inside the glass tube such that their longitudinal axes run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the glass tube, glass is deposited in layers and the glass rods are removed from the glass tube upon completion of the glass deposition process. Alternatively, a single glass rod, the radial dimensions of which in two mutually perpendicular directions are in a ratio unequal to one, is arranged in a glass tube such that its longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the glass tube.

Abstract: Optical fibres whose refractive index profiles show specific peripheral and/or radial and/or axial optical modulation structures are manufactured according to the PCVD method, in which such method parameters are varied which influence:(a) the uniformity of the material transport to the inner wall of the tube and/or the deposition yields of the glass over the tube circumference and/or(b) the axial position of the local deposition zone with respect to the reactor producing the plasma.

Abstract: In an optical fiber based on silicon dioxide with fluorine doping which determines its refractive index profile, at least in the light transmitting core a substance is added that increases the thermal expansion coefficient. The added substance is uniformly distributed at least in the light transmitting core, and reduces the influence of the drawing force F.sub.Z (during drawing of the preform) on the Rayleigh scattering .alpha..sub.R and the wavelength-independent "c term" losses. Even at high fluorine dopant concentrations, low Rayleigh scattering losses in the range of the material-intrinsic losses pure for silicon dioxide are achieved. The OH-contamination level is also further reduced, and cracks in the collapsed preforms are largely avoided.