Abstract: The specification describes ceram-glass compositions useful for electro-optic devices. The compositions have active ferroelectric ingredients in a tellurium oxide host. Proper processing of the ceram-glass produces highly transparent material with desirable ferroelectric properties. The ceram-glass materials can be used for electro-optic devices in both bulk and thin film applications.

Abstract: A glove box filter system for filtering out particles from a glove box environment defined in a glove box having an outlet and an inlet. The filter system includes a first filter stage for receiving removed gas from the glove box environment. The first filter stage contains a chamber having a first filter through which the removed gas passes for filtering out particles contained in the removed gas. The filtered gas is provided to a circulation conduit connected to a blower for providing movement of the gas through the glove box environment. A second filter stage connected to the glove box inlet is provided for fine-filtering the gas passed by the first filter stage prior to the return of the gas to the glove box environment. The first filter stage is connected to the glove box environment through one or more valves which isolate the first filter stage from the glove box environment when replacement of a first filter contained in the first filter stage occurs.

Abstract: The specification describes a method for the manufacture of fluoride glass optical fibers which are covered with a protective coating of phosphate glass. The coating is produced by dipping the fluoride glass preform in a phosphate glass melt prior to drawing the optical fiber. The fluoride glass is ZBLAN. The phosphate glass has a glass transition temperature below 200.degree. C., which allows the dipping step to be carried out at a relatively low temperature where the preform temperature is maintained well below the crystallization temperature of the fluoride glass, and also where the viscosity of the fluoride glass preform is substantially higher than the viscosity of the phosphate glass coating material.

Abstract: A method of making core holes in cast cladding glass for fabricating optical fiber preforms to make single and multimode optical fibers. Liquid cladding glass is pored into a casting mold having a metallic wire that is translated through the liquid glass as it cools so that the wire essentially carves out a smooth cylindrical core hole along the cylindrical axis of the cooled cladding glass. The method substantially reduces surface contamination at the interface of the core hole and the cladding glass because any liquid glass that comes in contacts with the metallic wire is removed during the process, leaving behind a pristine glass surface.

Abstract: A method of fabricating optical preforms that yield optical fibers having minimal scattering centers by substantially eliminating bubbles and crystallites that form during preform fabrication. The method utilizes glasses having low viscosity in their liquid state to eliminate large bubbles that contain ambient gasses. Small bubbles that have sizes comparable to the wavelength of light are eliminated by simultaneously vacuum-pumping and slow-cooling the liquid glass used to fabricate the preform before pouring the glass into the preform cast mold. Finally, bubbles due to the formation of vacuums in the preform are eliminated by applying a temperature gradient across the cast mold to induce a steep vertical gradient in viscosity in the liquid glass when the liquid glass is poured in the mold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for drawing a self-aligned core fiber free of surface contamination and inserting the core fiber into a cladding material to make an optical fiber preform. Single or multi-mode optical fibers having high quality core-clad interfaces can be directly drawn from the preforms described herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for drawing a self-aligned core fiber free of surface contamination and inserting the core fiber into a cladding material to make an optical fiber preform. Single or multi-mode optical fibers having high quality core-clad interfaces can be directly drawn from the preforms described herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for drawing a self-aligned core fiber free of surface contamination and inserting the core fiber into a cladding material to make an optical fiber preform. Single or multi-mode optical fibers having high quality core-clad interfaces can be directly drawn from the preforms described herein.