Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making infrared transmitting graded index optical elements by selecting at least two different infrared-transmitting materials, each with a different refractive index, having similar thermo-viscous behavior; assembling the infrared-transmitting materials into a stack comprising one or more layers of each infrared-transmitting material resulting in the stack having a graded index profile; and forming the stack into a desired shape. Also disclosed is the related optical element made by this method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fiber optic cable connector (1), the fiber optic cable contact (1) having a hot forming zone (100) at a free longitudinal end portion (10) and, at a portion (11) of the fiber optic cable contact (1) remote from the hot forming zone (100), a thermal barrier zone (110), the thermal barrier zone (110) being configured in such a way that it prevents heat from passing from the hot forming zone (100) into a portion of the fiber optic cable contact (1) on the other side of the thermal barrier zone (110).

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising non-silica, specialty glass that has multiple fiber cores arranged in a square registered array. The fiber cores are “registered” meaning that the array location of any fiber core is constant throughout the entire length of the fiber, including both ends. Optical fiber bundles are fabricated by combining multiple multi-core IR fibers with square-registration. Also disclosed is the related method for making the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a substantially void-free preform for a microstructured optical fiber using a one-step process is provided. A preform is prepared from specialty glasses using a direct extrusion method. A die for use with the direct extrusion method is also provided, and a method for drawing the preform into a HC-PBG fiber for use in transmitting infra-red wavelength light is also provided. The preform comprises an outer jacket made of solid glass, a cladding having a plurality of air holes arranged in a desired pattern within the jacket, and a core which is hollow.

Abstract: Armored fiber optic assemblies are disclosed that include a dielectric armor along with methods for manufacturing the same. The dielectric armor has an armor profile, thereby resembling conventional metal armored cable to the craft. The dielectric armor provides additional crush and impact resistance and the like for the optical fibers and/or fiber optic assembly therein. The dielectric armor is advantageous to the craft since it provides the desired mechanical performance without requiring the time and expense of grounding like conventional metal armored cables. Additionally, the armored fiber optic assemblies can have any suitable flame and/or smoke rating for meeting the requirements of the intended space.

Abstract: A method and device for making high precision glass tubes. A glass rod is pushed into a heated chamber and the tube is pulled from the chamber. Preferably, both the push rate and the pull rate are controlled. Fiber optic glass ferrules and other components manufactured by the use of this invention have precision dimensions that fall well within the tight dimensional tolerances required for ferrules and others.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanowire is disclosed. In one embodiment, a primary preform is formed comprising at least one central region and a support structure. The primary preform is then drawn to a cane, which is then inserted into an outer portion, to form a secondary preform. The secondary preform is then drawn until the at least one central portion is a nanowire. The method can produce nanowires of far greater length than existing methods, and can reduce the likelihood of damaging the nanowire when handling.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a device comprising multiple specialty glass optical fibers that combines several different mid-infrared optical signals from multiple optical fibers into one signal in a single optical fiber. In addition, the present invention provides for a method of making the device.

Abstract: Armored fiber optic assemblies are disclosed that include a dielectric armor along with methods for manufacturing the same. The dielectric armor has an armor profile, thereby resembling conventional metal armored cable to the craft. The dielectric armor provides additional crush and impact resistance and the like for the optical fibers and/or fiber optic assembly therein. The dielectric armor is advantageous to the craft since it provides the desired mechanical performance without requiring the time and expense of grounding like conventional metal armored cables. Additionally, the armored fiber optic assemblies can have any suitable flame and/or smoke rating for meeting the requirements of the intended space.

Abstract: Inorganic fibers consisting substantially of silicon, carbon, oxygen and a transition metal, having a fiber size of no greater than 2 ?m and having fiber lengths of 100 ?m or greater.

Abstract: Carbon particles, such as, carbon fibrils and carbon nanotube molecules, are assembled into aligned fibers using processes derived from the processes used to manufacture optical fiber. More particularly, the carbon particles are embedded in glass, which is then drawn to align them. By aligned it is meant the axis along the longest dimension of each of the various particles in a local vicinity are substantially parallel.

Abstract: An electro-optical high-voltage sensor includes a waveguiding sensing fiber of an electro-optical material. The electrical field of the voltage to be measured is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sensing fiber. The sensing fiber carries two orthogonally polarized light waves, with the applied field affecting the birefringence between the waves. Using an electro-optical waveguiding fiber in this configuration allows the voltage between two widely spaced points to be accurately measured.

Abstract: Microstructured optical fiber for single-moded transmission of optical signals, the optical fiber including a core region and a cladding region, the cladding region including an annular void-containing region that contains non-periodically disposed voids. The optical fiber provides single mode transmission and low bend loss.

Abstract: A random array of holes is created in an optical fiber by gas generated during fiber drawing. The gas forms bubbles which are drawn into long, microscopic holes. The gas is created by a gas generating material such as silicon nitride. Silicon nitride oxidizes to produce nitrogen oxides when heated. The gas generating material can alternatively be silicon carbide or other nitrides or carbides. The random holes can provide cladding for optical confinement when located around a fiber core. The random holes can also be present in the fiber core. The fibers can be made of silica. The present random hole fibers are particularly useful as pressure sensors since they experience a large wavelength dependant increase in optical loss when pressure or force is applied.

Abstract: The invention is directed to polarizing devices that can be scaled to polarize electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in ultraviolet to microwave range; and more particularly to devices suitable for use at visible and IR wavelengths. The device has a length, a width and a thickness, and a patterned system of channels, voids or holes embedded in or through a glass matrix and running through the thickness of the glass to thereby polarize incoming electromagnetic radiation having two polarization modes orthogonal to one another, blocking the passage of or reflecting one mode and permitting the other mode to pass through the device. The glass can be any glass suitable for transmitting the electromagnetic radiation in the range it will be used without excessive transmission losses due to absorbance of radiation in that range by moieties present in the glass.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for forming substantially striae-free glass substrates that are suitable for optical applications, including use in forming optical elements or structures such as mirrors and platen stage structures that can be used, for example, in EUV lithography. The method includes forming a mixture of silica soot, binder, lubricant and solvent. The homogenized mixture is then extruded through a slit die or mask into a flat planar pre-form, and the extruded pre-form is then consolidated by heating into a substantially full density, substantially striae-free lithography glass substrate structure. The consolidated perform has a substantially uniform coefficient of thermal expansion and is also substantially void free.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing microstructured optical fibers having an arbitrary core size and shape. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of fabricating a photonic band gap fiber includes the steps of forming an assembly of stacked elongate elements, the assembly including a first set of elongate elements, the first set of elongate elements defining and surrounding a core volume, and a second set of elongate elements surrounding the first set of elongate elements, wherein the core volume defined by the first set of elongate elements has a shape that is not essentially an integer multiple of the external shape of the elongate elements of the second set of elongate elements; including the assembly in a photonic band gap fiber preform; and drawing the photonic band gap fiber preform into the photonic band gap fiber.

Abstract: An electromagnetically induced transparent (EIT) photonic band-gap fiber (PBG). The EIT-PBG combines the pass gap and band gap properties of a photonic band gap (PBG) fiber with the transparency control of mediums exhibiting EIT effects, allowing the formation of various optical devices.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the production of optical fibers from optical fiber preforms using flow physics. The present methods provide for the “drawing” of an optical fiber preform using focusing of the preform by a surrounding fluid, e.g. a heated gas.

Abstract: A crucible for melting a silica for fusion of said silica into a desired shape. The crucible having a main body with inner and outer surfaces comprised of a refractory material. In addition, at least a portion of the inner surface includes a barrier layer comprised of a material selected from rhenium, osmium, iridium, and mixtures thereof. An inlet tube to the crucible being provided to supply an oxidizing gas to a melt zone.

Abstract: A glass composition to be softened is fed to a heating zone and is shaped continuously into a cylindrical component in a deformation zone, and the cross-sectional geometry of the component is determined. A feed device, a heating device, and a take-off device are provided, and a glass composition is supplied continuously by the feed device to the heating device, where it is softened, the component being formed from the softened glass composition by means of the take-off device under formation of a deformation zone. To produce a component with only slight deviations from the desired cross-sectional geometry and to provide a flexible apparatus suitable for this purpose, the glass composition is locally heated or cooled in at least one deformation area, which extends over only a part of the circumference of the deformation zone, as a function of a determined deviation of the cross-sectional geometry from a nominal geometry.

Abstract: A starting material for producing optical fibers contains metal halides. The refractive index of the optical fiber formed from the starting material is predeterminable by adjusting a partial pressure ratio of a halogen-containing gas mixture. The starting material is produced by mixing halogenated gases into a gas mixture with the desired partial pressure ratio, causing a chemical reaction at a first temperature of the gas mixture with at least metal to form a reaction product, the first temperature being higher than the melting temperature of the reaction product and cooling the reaction product to a second temperature that is below the melting temperature.

Abstract: A tube take-up apparatus is provided to handle a length of freshly extruded tube. The apparatus includes an elongated housing in which a pair of parallel, spaced-apart rollers extend lengthwise in a position just below the extruded tubing. The housing is removably mounted on an elongated supporting fin which is secured to the extruder at its near end, extends upwardly between the two rollers and substantially along the entire length of the housing, and is, in turn, supported on a fixed pedestal at its remote end. After the full length of tubing has been extruded, the housing and rollers as a unit are lifted with the tube from the supporting fin and replaced by an empty housing, to extrude the next tube, while the full housing is carried away to a dryer.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a photonic band gap fiber including the steps of etching a preform and then drawing the preform into a photonic band gap fiber. Glass tubes are bundled and then formed into a photonic crystal perform having a number of passageways by reducing the cross-section of the bundle. One of the passageways is enlarged by flowing an etchant through it. After cleaning, the band gap fiber is made from the etched photonic preform, for example, by drawing.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the production of optical fibers from optical fiber preforms using flow physics. The present methods provide for the “drawing” of an optical fiber preform using focusing of the preform by a surrounding fluid, e.g. a heated gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a photonic crystal using a combination of extruding and drawing techniques. The method is contemplated as being capable of producing both two and three dimensional crystals due to the maturity and diversity of extruding and drawing technology. The method allows the drawing of relatively large photonic crystals and is flexible enough to provide a periodic array of channels or filaments as the crystal features. After the extruding step or steps and before the step of heating and drawing, a plurality of elongated extruded bodies can be bundled and drawn as a unit.

Abstract: A method for making preforms for use in a glass lens molding process and molding lenses is disclosed. A glass rod is formed preferably by dipping a bob into a homogeneous melt of a predetermined optical glass, maintaining the temperature of the homogeneous melt at least the melt temperature and producing a rod of glass from the homogeneous melt, allowing the rod of glass to cool and solidify, and then cutting the rod of glass into predetermined lengths. By withdrawing the bob at a predetermined pull rate the rod of glass can be produced with a predetermined diameter. Using a constant pull rate, the rod of glass will be cylindrical in shape and can be cut into a series of individual cylindrical preforms. The preforms can be inserted into a compression molding apparatus for the forming of a glass optical element therewith. The orientation of the preform is such that the cut planar surfaces of the preform are parallel to the direction of compression of the molding process.

Abstract: A double crucible fiber fabrication system employing a rod to control flow of the core material to produce a core of desired diameter. The rod fits closely within the inner crucible and moves at a speed necessary to produce a core material flow rate which will produce a desired core diameter. Control of the rod speed produces good control of core diameter for a wide variety of different core materials. It is also possible to control the rod speed in order to compensate for capillary effects and leakage of core material. Furthermore, control of the rod speed allows fabrication of a fiber having a core diameter which varies as desired throughout a single fiber.

Abstract: A vertically disposed apparatus used to make core-clad optical fibers inces an inner elongated cylinder removably closed at the top and provided at the bottom with an inner exit port of a smaller diameter than the inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, disposed around the inner cylinder, removably closed at the top and provided at the bottom with an outer exit port of a smaller diameter than the outer cylinder. The inner exit port is of a smaller diameter than the outer exit port and is disposed directly above the outer exit port. The apparatus also includes a heater for heating the inner and outer cylinders and acces to the inner and the outer cylinders for individually pressurizing inner and outer cylinders.

Abstract: A glass body for optical fiber containing GeO.sub.2 --SiO.sub.2 glass in a core portion thereof, in which the GeO.sub.2 --SiO.sub.2 glass has an absorbance at 5.16 eV of at least 1/mm but not higher than 2.5/mm or in which concentration of Ge.sup.2+ contained in the GeO.sub.2 --SiO.sub.2 glass substantially lies within the range of 1.1.times.10.sup.-9 to 2.8.times.10.sup.-9 mol/mm.sup.3 as calculated by the following general equation:A=.epsilon..sub.5.16ev .multidot.C.sub.(Ge2+) .multidot.1wherein A is absorbance which is expressed by A=-log T (T being transmittance) and normalized per 1 mm of optical path length, C.sub.(Ge2+) is Ge.sup.2+ concentration, .epsilon..sub.5.16ev is absorption coefficient (1/mol/cm), and 1 is optical path length.

Abstract: The disclosed method of making a mixed glass optical fiber exemplarily comprises providing a high-silica tube, and causing molten non-high silica glass to flow into the bore of the tube by application of a pressure differential. In order to prevent cracking, the tube desirably has an outer diameter/inner diameter ratio of at least 5, preferably about 10 or even more, and an inner diameter of at most 1 min. In a preferred embodiment, a conventional SiO.sub.2 tube is partially collapsed to an inner diameter less than 1 mm, a quantity of a non-high-silica glass is placed in a neck of the partially collapsed tube and heated such that molten glass communicates with the reduced-diameter portion of the bore and can be drawn into the reduced-diameter portion by means of a vacuum. The resulting mixed glass body is then further stretched to result in a core rod of core diameter at most 0.3 min. After overcladding the core rod with SiO.sub.2, fiber is drawn from the thus produced preform. A thus produced fiber with SiO.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multicore hollow optical fiber comprising a hollow central part and a plastic peripheral part, more particularly, a multicore hollow optical fiber having a cross-section of the peripheral part wherein (a) an islands-in-sea structure is formed; (b) the islands comprise a core resin having at least higher refractive index than a cladding resin; (c) the sea comprises a cladding resin or the third resin; (d) the core resin is surrounded by the cladding resin; and (e) voids do not substantially exist; and also having, in the direction of the axis, the above cross-section continuously from one end to the other.