Abstract: An optical fiber is provided that includes a core region and a cladding region. The core region is formed of silica glass doped with chlorine and/or an alkali metal. The cladding region surrounds the core region and includes an inner cladding directly adjacent to the core region, an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding, and a trench region disposed between the inner cladding and the outer cladding in a radial direction. The trench region has a volume of about 30% ?-micron2 or greater. Additionally, the optical fiber has an effective area at 1550 nm of about 100 micron2 or less.

Abstract: An optical fiber is provided that includes a core region and a cladding region. The core region is formed of silica glass doped with chlorine and/or an alkali metal. The cladding region surrounds the core region and includes an inner cladding directly adjacent to the core region, an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding, and a trench region disposed between the inner cladding and the outer cladding in a radial direction. The trench region has a volume of about 30% ?-micron2 or greater. Additionally, the optical fiber has an effective area at 1550 nm of about 100 micron2 or less.

Abstract: An optical fiber is provided that includes a core region and a cladding region. The core region is formed of silica glass doped with chlorine and/or an alkali metal. The cladding region surrounds the core region and includes an inner cladding directly adjacent to the core region, an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding, and a trench region disposed between the inner cladding and the outer cladding in a radial direction. The trench region has a volume of about 30% ?-micron2 or greater. Additionally, the optical fiber has an effective area at 1550 nm of about 100 micron2 or less.

Abstract: An optical fiber connection is provided that includes a first optical fiber defining a first exterior surface and a first effective area. The first fiber defines a first tapered region tapering from a first nominal fiber diameter to a first tapered diameter. A second optical fiber has a second exterior surface and a second effective area less than the first effective area. The second fiber defines a second tapered region tapering from a second nominal fiber diameter to a second tapered diameter and a fiber splice optically coupling the first tapered region of the first fiber to the second tapered region of the second fiber. The first and second tapered regions taper such that the first and second exterior surfaces have a variance from a Gaussian function of less than 25% of the Gaussian function at each point along the first and second exterior surfaces.