Abstract: Preparation of halogen-doped silica is described. The preparation includes doping silica with high halogen concentration and sintering halogen-doped silica to a closed-pore state. The sintering includes a high pressure sintering treatment and a low pressure sintering treatment. The high pressure sintering treatment is conducted in the presence of a high partial pressure of a gas-phase halogen doping precursor and densifies a silica soot body to a partially consolidated state. The low pressure sintering treatment is conducted in the presence of a low partial pressure of gas-phase halogen doping precursor and transforms a partially consolidated silica body to a closed-pore state. The product halogen-doped silica glass exhibits little foaming when heated to form fibers in a draw process or core canes in a redraw process.

Abstract: An optical fiber with low attenuation and methods of making same are disclosed. The optical fiber has a core, an inner cladding surround the core, and an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding. The outer cladding is chlorine-doped such that the relative refractive index varies as a function of radius. The radially varying relative refractive index profile of the outer cladding reduces excess stress in the core and inner cladding, which helps lower fiber attenuation while also reducing macrobend and microbend loss. A process of fabricating the optical fiber includes doping an overclad soot layer of a soot preform with chlorine and then removing a portion of the chlorine dopant from an outermost region of the overclad soot layer. The soot preform with the modified chlorine dopant profile is then sintered to form a glass preform, which can then be used for drawing the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber with low attenuation and methods of making same are disclosed. The optical fiber has a core, an inner cladding surround the core, and an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding. The outer cladding is chlorine-doped such that the relative refractive index varies as a function of radius. The radially varying relative refractive index profile of the outer cladding reduces excess stress in the core and inner cladding, which helps lower fiber attenuation while also reducing macrobend and microbend loss. A process of fabricating the optical fiber includes doping an overclad soot layer of a soot preform with chlorine and then removing a portion of the chlorine dopant from an outermost region of the overclad soot layer. The soot preform with the modified chlorine dopant profile is then sintered to form a glass preform, which can then be used for drawing the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber with low attenuation and methods of making same are disclosed. The optical fiber has a core, an inner cladding surround the core, and an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding. The outer cladding is chlorine-doped such that the relative refractive index varies as a function of radius. The radially varying relative refractive index profile of the outer cladding reduces excess stress in the core and inner cladding, which helps lower fiber attenuation while also reducing macrobend and microbend loss. A process of fabricating the optical fiber includes doping an overclad soot layer of a soot preform with chlorine and then removing a portion of the chlorine dopant from an outermost region of the overclad soot layer. The soot preform with the modified chlorine dopant profile is then sintered to form a glass preform, which can then be used for drawing the optical fiber.

Abstract: A handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) device may include communication circuitry for communicating over a network. In some embodiments information related to sale and/or pricing of material identified by the XRF device is communicated by and/or to the XRF device. In some embodiments the XRF device communicates information regarding rental of the XRF device. In some embodiments the XRF device may be used to ascertain whether an item, for example an item of evidence or a particular item in a manufacturing environment, includes a material composition expected for the item, and in some embodiments storing or logging a result of such a determination.

Abstract: A handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) device may include communication circuitry for communicating over a network. In some embodiments information related to sale and/or pricing of material identified by the XRF device is communicated by and/or to the XRF device. In some embodiments the XRF device communicates information regarding rental of the XRF device. In some embodiments the XRF device may be used to ascertain whether an item, for example an item of evidence or a particular item in a manufacturing environment, includes a material composition expected for the item, and in some embodiments storing or logging a result of such a determination.

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a method of making an optical fiber comprising the steps of: (i) exposing a silica based preform with at least one porous glass region having soot density of ? to a gas mixture comprising SiCl4 having SiCl4 mole fraction ySiCl4 at a doping temperature Tdop such that parameter X is larger than 0.03 to form the chlorine treated preform, wherein X = 1 1 + [ ( ? ? s - ? ) ? 0.209748 ? ? T dop ? Exp ? [ - 5435.33 / T dop ] y SiCl ? ? 4 3 / 4 ] and ?s is the density of the fully densified soot layer; and (ii) exposing the chlorine treated preform to temperatures above 1400° C. to completely sinter the preform to produce sintered optical fiber preform with a chlorine doped region; and (iii) drawing an optical fiber from the sintered optical preform.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing a warning including the steps: obtaining data relating to the location of a hazardous object and obtaining data relating to the location of a material handling machine. The computer to compare the location of the material handling machine to the location of the hazardous object and estimates a probability of a hazardous event occurring. If the estimate exceeds a threshold valve, a warning is issued by the computer.

Abstract: A soot deposition burner assembly, having at least one burner including a burner face on a first surface of a burner support. The burner produces a flame which extends generally perpendicularly to the first surface. A burner shield includes a first wall extending generally perpendicularly from the first surface surrounding the burner face. The burner shield has a base end with a first surface area facing toward the first surface and a shield face with a second surface area facing away from the first surface. To reduce the buildup of soot material, the second surface area is smaller than the first surface area, and the wall thickness is less at the shield face than the base end. Additionally, air can be directed along an exterior surface of the first wall from the base end toward the shield face to further reduce soot buildup.

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a method of making an optical fiber comprising the steps of: (i) exposing a silica based preform with at least one porous glass region having soot density of ? to a gas mixture comprising SiCl4 having SiCl4 mole fraction ySiCl4 at a doping temperature Tdop such that parameter X is larger than 0.03 to form the chlorine treated preform, wherein X = 1 1 + [ ( ? ? s - ? ) ? 0.209748 ? ? T dop ? Exp ? [ - 5435.33 / T dop ] y SiCl ? ? 4 3 / 4 ] and ?s is the density of the fully densified soot layer; and (ii) exposing the chlorine treated preform to temperatures above 1400° C. to completely sinter the preform to produce sintered optical fiber preform with a chlorine doped region; and (iii) drawing an optical fiber from the sintered optical preform.

Abstract: A skimming tool 1 for smoothing and levelling wet plaster applied to a surface comprising: an elongate generally rectangular, flat, flexible, elastomeric web 2 and an elongate, substantially rigid handle 3 connected to and extending along substantially the length of one long edge of the web, wherein the handle is adapted to be gripped by the user

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a method of making an optical fiber comprising the steps of: (i) exposing a silica based preform with at least one porous glass region having soot density of ? to a gas mixture comprising SiCl4 having SiCl4 mole fraction ySiCl4 at a doping temperature Tdop such that parameter X is larger than 0.03 to form the chlorine treated preform, wherein X = 1 1 + [ ( ? ? s - ? ) ? 0.209748 ? T dop ? Exp ? [ - 5435.33 / T dop ] y SiCl ? ? 4 3 / 4 ] and ?s is the density of the fully densified soot layer; and (ii) exposing the chlorine treated preform to temperatures above 1400° C. to completely sinter the preform to produce sintered optical fiber preform with a chlorine doped region; and (iii) drawing an optical fiber from the sintered optical preform.

Abstract: A handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) device may include communication circuitry for communicating over a network. In some embodiments information related to sale and/or pricing of material identified by the XRF device is communicated by and/or to the XRF device. In some embodiments the XRF device communicates information regarding rental of the XRF device. In some embodiments the XRF device may be used to ascertain whether an item, for example an item of evidence or a particular item in a manufacturing environment, includes a material composition expected for the item, and in some embodiments storing or logging a result of such a determination.

Abstract: A skimming tool 1 for smoothing and levelling wet plaster applied to a surface comprising: an elongate generally rectangular, flat, flexible, elastomeric web 2 and an elongate, substantially rigid handle 3 connected to and extending along substantially the length of one long edge of the web, wherein the handle is adapted to be gripped by the user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing a warning including the steps: obtaining data relating to the location of a hazardous object and obtaining data relating to the location of a material handling machine. The computer to compare the location of the material handling machine to the location of the hazardous object and estimates a probability of a hazardous event occurring. If the estimate exceeds a threshold valve, a warning is issued by the computer.

Abstract: A method of operating a material handling machine having a material handling implement moveable relative to a chassis of the machine, the method including the steps of positioning the material handling implement in a first position of a first region, moving the material handling implement to a second region, providing a control system to automatically return the material handling implement to the first region by positioning it at a second position of the first region different to the first position of the first region, and returning the material handling implement to the second region.

Abstract: A soot deposition burner assembly, having at least one burner including a burner face on a first surface of a burner support. The burner produces a flame which extends generally perpendicularly to the first surface. A burner shield includes a first wall extending generally perpendicularly from the first surface surrounding the burner face. The burner shield has a base end with a first surface area facing toward the first surface and a shield face with a second surface area facing away from the first surface. To reduce the buildup of soot material, the second surface area is smaller than the first surface area, and the wall thickness is less at the shield face than the base end. Additionally, air can be directed along an exterior surface of the first wall from the base end toward the shield face to further reduce soot buildup.

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a method of making an optical fiber comprising the steps of: (i) exposing a silica based preform with at least one porous glass region having soot density of ? to a gas mixture comprising SiCl4 having SiCl4 mole fraction ySiCl4 at a doping temperature Tdop such that parameter X is larger than 0.03 to form the chlorine treated preform, wherein X = 1 1 + [ ( ? ? s - ? ) ? 0.209748 ? T dop ? Exp ? [ - 5435.33 / T dop ] y SiCl ? ? 4 3 / 4 ] and ?s is the density of the fully densified soot layer; and (ii) exposing the chlorine treated preform to temperatures above 1400° C. to completely sinter the preform to produce sintered optical fiber preform with a chlorine doped region; and (iii) drawing an optical fiber from the sintered optical preform.

Abstract: A skimming tool 1 for smoothing and levelling wet plaster applied to a surface comprising: an elongate generally rectangular, flat, flexible, elastomeric web 2 and an elongate, substantially rigid handle 3 connected to and extending along substantially the length of one long edge of the web, wherein the handle is adapted to be gripped by the user at any point along its length.

Abstract: A method for forming a silica glass blank includes generating soot using an array of soot producing burners, directing the soot along a first direction onto a bait, collecting the soot on the bait, imparting relative oscillatory motion having a repeat period between the array of soot producing burners and the bait along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction while collecting the soot, and offsetting the relative oscillatory motion by a selected distance along the second direction after each repeat period.