Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core portion having a radius rC and a graded refractive index profile ?C having an alpha value greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 8. The core portion includes a silica-based glass and a down-dopant, where a concentration of the down-dopant is graded such that the concentration of the down-dopant decreases from the radius rC towards the center of the core portion. The optical fiber comprises a cladding portion surrounding the core portion and having a relative refractive index ?OC that is less than a maximum refractive index ?Cmax of the core portion.

Abstract: An optical fiber curing component includes a first tube comprising a first body defining a first interior surface and a first exterior surface, the first tube defining a first aperture and a second aperture on opposite ends of a first cavity, wherein the first tube defines a central axis extending through the first cavity; light sources coupled to the first body of the first tube and configured to emit light toward the central axis of the first tube, wherein each of the light sources intersect a common plane defined perpendicular to the central axis of the first tube; a silica glass article, having an anti-reflective coating, disposed between each of the plurality of light sources and the central axis of the first tube; and a reflective coating positioned on the interior surface of the first body and configured to reflect the light toward the central axis of the first tube.

Abstract: A method of irradiating a wound that includes positioning a wound insertion foam within a wound cavity of a wound and covering the wound insertion foam using a wound sealing layer. The method further includes pumping fluid from the wound cavity using a drain tube sealed within the wound cavity and coupled to a vacuum source, and irradiating the wound using a light diffusing optical fiber that is optically coupled to a therapeutic light source and includes light scattering structures distributed along the light diffusing optical fiber. A portion of the light diffusing optical fiber is positioned within a wound tissue region of the wound, the wound cavity, or both, such that light emitted by the therapeutic light source enters the light diffusing optical fiber, scatters outward from the light diffusing optical fiber, and irradiates the wound tissue region, a wound cavity surface of the wound, or both.

Abstract: Embodiments of a glass-ceramic, glass-ceramic article or glass-ceramic window that includes 40 mol %?SiO2?80 mol %; 1 mol %?Al2O3?15 mol %; 3 mol %?B2O3?50 mol %; 0 mol %?R2O?15 mol %; 0 mol %?RO?2 mol %; 0 mol %?P2O5?3 mol %; 0 mol %?SnO2?0.5 mol %; 0.1 mol %?MoO3?15 mol %; and 0 mol %?WO3?10 mol % (or 0 mol %<MoO3?15 mol %; 0.1 mol %?WO3?10 mol %; and 0.01 mol %?V2O5?0.2 mol %), wherein the WO3 (mol %) plus the MoO3 (mol %) is from 1 mol % to 19 mol %, and wherein R2O (mol %) minus the Al2O3 (mol %) is from ?12 mol % to 4 mol %, are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus including a first substrate, a second substrate, an inorganic film provided between the first substrate and the second substrate and in contact with both the first substrate and the second substrate, a laser welded zone formed between the first and second substrate by the inorganic film, where the laser welded zone has a heat affected zone (HAZ), where the HAZ is defined as a region in which ?HAZ is at least 1 MPa higher than average stress in the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein ?HAZ is compressive stress in the HAZ, and wherein the laser welded zone is characterized by its ?interface laser weld>?HAZ, wherein ?interface laser weld is peak value of compressive stress in the laser welded zone.

Abstract: An illumination system (100) includes a light diffusing optical fiber (110) and a light output device (140) having a light source (142). The light diffusing optical fiber (110) includes a first end (112), a second end (114), a core (120), a cladding (122) surrounding the core (102), an outer surface (128), and a plurality of nano-sized structures (125) configured to scatter guided light through the outer surface (128). The light diffusing optical fiber (110) has a numerical aperture NALDF. The light output device (140) has an effective numerical aperture NA0, which is less than the numerical aperture NALDF of the light diffusing optical fiber (110).

Abstract: The systems and methods of forming optical fiber coatings with reduced defects include moving a bare optical fiber through first and second coating sub-systems. The first coating sub-system forms a first coating on the bare optical fiber by depositing a first coating material and then curing the deposited first coating material with actinic light. This process also results in the formation of stray actinic light. The process also includes moving the coated optical fiber through a second coating sub-system to form a second coating on the first coating. A light-blocking device resides between the first and second coating sub-systems to block the stray actinic light. Without the light-blocking device, the stray actinic light can enter the second coating sub-system and reach the second coating material therein and form a gel therefrom, which in turn leads to defects in the coated optical fiber exiting the second coating sub-system.

Abstract: Methods for laser welding one or more optical fibers to a substrate and assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of bonding an optical fiber to a substrate having at least one film layer on a surface of the substrate includes directing a laser beam into the optical fiber disposed on the at least one film layer. The optical fiber has a curved surface that focuses the laser beam to a focused diameter. The method further includes melting, using the focused diameter laser beam, a material of the substrate to create a laser bond area between the optical fiber and the surface of the substrate. The laser bond area includes laser-melted material of the substrate that bonds the optical fiber to the substrate. The at least one film layer has an absorption of at least 15% at a wavelength of the focused diameter laser beam.

Abstract: A light delivery system and method are provided to promote a photochemical reaction for disinfecting a surface. The system includes a light source and a light diffusing element operatively coupled to the light source and further embedded within a surface to be disinfected. The light diffusing element outputs light to the surface to promote a photochemical reaction to disinfect the surface. A low scatter light transmission medium may further be coupled between the light source and the light diffusing element to transmit light from the light source remotely to the light diffusing element.

Abstract: Methods of making a glass-based article including a surface feature thereon. Methods include arranging a glass-based substrate relative to a laser. Methods also include irradiating the glass-based substrate with laser beam with a light wavelength from about 2500 nm to about 3000 nm to grow a surface feature thereon.

Abstract: A light diffusing optical fiber includes a core, a cladding surrounding the core, an outer surface, and a plurality of scattering structures positioned within the core, the cladding, or both the core and the cladding. The plurality of scattering structures are configured to scatter guided light towards the outer surface, such that light including a wavelength of from about 450 nm to about 650 nm diffusing through the outer surface along a diffusion length of the light diffusing optical fiber includes a spectral attenuation percent relative range of about 15% or less.

Abstract: Assemblies, optical connectors, and methods for bonding optical elements to a substrate using a laser beam are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of bonding an optical element to a substrate includes disposing a film layer on a surface of the substrate, disposing the optical element on a surface of the film layer, and directing a laser beam into the optical element. The method further includes melting, using the diameter laser beam, a material of the substrate to create a bond area between the optical element and the surface of the substrate. The film layer is capable of absorbing a wavelength of the laser beam to melt the material of the substrate at the bond area. The bond area includes laser-melted material of the substrate that bonds the optical element to the substrate.

Abstract: A glass container including a body having a delamination factor less than or equal to 10 and at least one marking is described. The body has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a wall thickness extending between the outer surface and the inner surface. The marking is located within the wall thickness. In particular, the marking is a portion of the body having a refractive index that differs from a refractive index of an unmarked portion of the body. Methods of forming the marking within the body are also described.

Abstract: An illuminated container for the growth of biological entities is provided. The container is illuminated by a flexible light diffusing fiber. The light diffusing fiber includes a core formed from a silica-based glass and a cladding in direct contact with the core. The light diffusing fiber also includes an outer polymer coating layer surrounding the cladding, the outer polymer coating layer being the cured product of a liquid polymer blend including a scattering material and a luminophore.

Abstract: A light diffusing device is provided. The light diffusing device includes a light diffusing element and an outer polymer coating layer surrounding the light diffusing element, the outer polymer coating layer being the cured product of a liquid polymer blend including a scattering composition and a luminophore.

Abstract: A laser-welded, sealed electronic device housing and related systems and methods are provided. The sealed housing includes a first substrate having a first surface and a second substrate having a second surface facing the first surface. The sealed housing includes a recess formed in the first substrate. The recess faces the second surface such that the second surface and the recess define a chamber. A laser weld bonds the first surface to the second surface, and the laser weld surrounds the chamber. A functional film is supported by at least one of the first surface and the second surface, and the functional film extends from the chamber and across the laser weld. In exemplary arrangements the device is an OLED device and the functional film form conductive leads in communication with the OLED.

Abstract: A light diffusing optical fiber includes a glass core, a cladding, a phosphor layer surrounding the cladding, and a plurality of scattering structures positioned within the glass core, the cladding, or both. The phosphor layer includes two or more phosphors and is configured to convert guided light diffusing through the phosphor layer into emission light such that the color of the emission light has a chromaticity within a u?-v? chromaticity region on a CIE 1976 chromaticity space defined by: a first u?-v? boundary line and a second u?-v? boundary line that extend parallel to a planckian locus at a distance of ±0.02 Duv from the planckian locus, a third u?-v? boundary line that extends along an isothermal line for a correlated color temperature of about 2000 K, and a fourth u?-v? boundary line that extends along an isothermal line for a correlated color temperature of about 10000 K.

Abstract: An apparatus for curing a coating composition disposed on a glass fiber includes a diffuse reflector surrounding a coating composition disposed on a glass fiber. The diffuse reflector defines a cavity having a sidewall extending from a first end to a second end. The first end has a first opening and the second end has a second opening. The glass fiber passes through the cavity from the first opening to the second opening. The sidewall has an interior surface facing the coating composition disposed on the glass fiber. The interior surface includes a scattering material. A light source integrated with the diffuse reflector. The light source directs light to the scattering material. The scattering material diffusely reflects at least 90% of the light. The diffusely reflected light has sufficient intensity to cure the coating composition.

Abstract: A glass container including a body having a delamination factor less than or equal to 10 and at least one marking is described. The body has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a wall thickness extending between the outer surface and the inner surface. The marking is located within the wall thickness. In particular, the marking is a portion of the body having a refractive index that differs from a refractive index of an unmarked portion of the body. Methods of forming the marking within the body are also described.

Abstract: Light diffusing optical fibers for use in illumination applications and which have a uniform color gradient that is angularly independent are disclosed herein along with methods for making such fibers. The light diffusing fibers are composed of a silica-based glass core that is coated with a number of layers including both a scattering layer and a phosphor layer.