Abstract: An optical fiber having at least a first central core segment, said central core segment comprising at least a first region having a width no more than 0.2 ?m over a core delta % of 0.1 or greater. The first core region may also over a delta height of at least 0.15 delta % exhibits a profile volume less than 0.1. Such core segments can facilitate optical fibers which exhibit an L01 acousto-optic effective area which is greater in magnitude than the L02 acousto optic effective area.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core, an inner cladding and a low index ring of silica-based glass. The core comprises silica-based glass, an index of refraction n1, and a relative refractive index percent ?1% relative to pure silica glass. The inner cladding surrounds the core and comprises an index of refraction n2 and a relative refractive index percent ?2% relative to pure silica glass, wherein ?1%>?2% and the difference between ?1% and ?2% is greater than about 0.1%. The low index ring surrounds the inner cladding and comprises silica glass co-doped with boron and fluorine, a radial thickness of less than about 20 ?m, an index of refraction n3 and a third relative refractive index percent change ?3% relative to pure silica glass, wherein ?2%>?3% and ?3% is less than about ?1.0%.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical waveguide fiber that includes the steps of providing a cylindrical glass optical fiber preform having a longitudinally extending centerline hole, and closing the hole under conditions suitable to result in uniform and symmetric hole closure. The method may include first plugging a first end and a second end of the centerline hole to prevent gas flow therethrough. The method preferably involves closing the centerline hole of the preform by drawing the preform down into an optical waveguide fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes a core and a cladding, said cladding having a refractive index nc a first coating directly contacting the cladding of said fiber, said coating having a thickness of less than 10 microns, said coating having a refractive index delta %=100×(ni2?nc2)/2ni2 less than ?1 percent. In another aspect, an optical fiber includes a core and a cladding, said cladding having a refractive index nc, a first coating directly contacting the cladding of said fiber, said fiber comprising a glass diameter less than 100 microns, said coating having a thickness of at least 8 microns, said coating having a refractive index delta %=100×(ni2?nc2)/2ni2 less than ?1 percent.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber having a silica-based core comprising an alkali metal oxide selected from the group consisting of K2O, Na2O, LiO2, Rb2O, Cs2O and mixtures thereof in an average concentration in said core between about 50 and 500 ppm by weight, said core further comprising chlorine and fluorine, wherein the average concentration of fluorine in said core is greater than the average concentration of alkali metal oxide in said core and the average concentration of chlorine in said core is greater than the average concentration of alkali metal oxide in said core; and a silica-based cladding surrounding and directly adjacent the core. By appropriately selecting the concentration of alkali metal oxide dopant in the core and the cladding, a low loss optical fiber may be obtained.

Abstract: A right-angled coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal is disclosed, the right-angled connector includes fewer components and better impedance characteristics. The right-angled coaxial cable connector includes a main body into which a coaxial cable is inserted, a retainer inserted into the main body, and a coupler for connecting the connector to a terminal. The right-angled coaxial cable connector also has a seal disposed between the retainer and the coupler.

Abstract: Optical waveguide fiber that is bend resistant and single moded at 1260 nm and at higher wavelengths. The optical fiber includes a core and cladding, the cladding having an annular inner region, an annular ring region, and an annular outer region. The annular ring region has a low relative refractive index.

Abstract: Microstructured optical fiber and method of making. Glass soot is deposited and then consolidated under conditions which are effective to trap a portion of the consolidation gases in the glass to thereby produce a non-periodic array of voids which may then be used to form a void containing cladding region in an optical fiber. Preferred void producing consolidation gases include nitrogen, argon, CO2, oxygen, chlorine, CF4, CO, SO2 and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Optical fiber having a coating surrounding and in direct contact with the silica based cladding region of the fiber, the coating having a Young's modulus of elasticity greater than 30 MPa. The optical fiber has low bend losses, especially low microbend induced losses. The optical fiber has a core surrounded by a cladding, and the cladding has a ring portion that includes holes or doped silica or both.

Abstract: A curable composition for coating an optical fiber that includes an aliphatic-aromatic oxyglycidyl(meth)acrylate monomeric component, an aliphatic-(hetero)cyclic oxyglycidyl(meth)acrylate monomeric component, or a combination thereof, and an ethylenically unsaturated urethane or urea oligomeric component. Cured products of the composition and optical fibers that contain cured primary coatings formed from such compositions are also disclosed. The resulting optical fibers and optical fiber ribbons containing them can be used for data transmission in telecommunications systems.

Abstract: An optical-fiber-based light source that generates light via third-harmonic (TH) generation is disclosed. The light source includes a pump light source that provides pump light having a fundamental mode of wavelength ?P. The light source also includes an optical fiber optically coupled to the pump light source. The optical fiber's core refractive index profile has (i) a central region with a refractive index value ?1, (ii) a first annular region immediately surrounding the central region and having a refractive index value ?2, and (iii) a second annular region immediately surrounding the first annular region and having a refractive index value ?3. The optical fiber satisfies the conditions ?2<?1 and ?2<?3, and max{?1,?3}??2>1.2%. The pump light produces TH-generated light having a higher-order mode of wavelength ?TH=(1/3)?P and that is outputted at the optical fiber output end.

Abstract: A method for producing low-PMD fiber, in which a glass fiber is drawn from an optical fiber perform by a tractor which pulls such optical fiber from said perform; subsequent to said tractor pulling the fiber is twisted about its axis to increase the magnitude of twist which is imparted to said fiber. The fiber is then wound onto a fiber storage spool such that at least a portion of the twist imparted to said optical fiber is retained while said fiber is wound on said spool.

Abstract: Optical waveguides are fabricated in glass-ceramic materials utilizing an ion-exchange process to pattern the waveguide at a temperature below the ceramming temperature of the glass-ceramic material. The optical waveguides may include optically-active dopants dispersed preferably within the crystallite phase of the glass-ceramic material.

Abstract: An optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers encapsulated within a matrix material, where the optical fiber coating(s) and the matrix material(s), and optionally any ink layers thereon, are characterized by compatible chemical and/or physical properties, whereby the fiber coating and matrix and any ink layers therebetween can be reliably stripped from the optical fibers to afford a suitable strip cleanliness. Novel ink formulations that can be used in the making of such fiber optic ribbons, methods of making such ribbons, and their use are also described.

Abstract: An optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers encapsulated within a matrix material, where the optical fiber coating(s) and the matrix material(s), and optionally any ink layers thereon, are characterized by compatible chemical and/or physical properties, whereby the fiber coating and matrix and any ink layers therebetween can be reliably stripped from the optical fibers to afford a suitable strip cleanliness. Novel ink formulations that can be used in the making of such fiber optic ribbons, methods of making such ribbons, and their use are also described.

Abstract: A method of minimizing localized heating of, or minimizing signal losses across a source of loss in, an optical fiber used in transmission of a high power optical signal at an operating wavelength. These methods include the steps of: providing an optical fiber which comprises either (i) a coating characterized by an absorbance of less than about 4.5 dB/cm at the operating wavelength or (ii) a refractive index lower than the refractive index of a cladding layer of the optical fiber by more than about 3×10?3 at the operating wavelength, or (iii) both (i) and (ii); and transmitting a optical signal having a power greater than about 250 mW through the optical fiber, wherein the coating, cladding layer, or combination thereof are selected to minimize localized heating of the optical fiber or to result in a signal loss across a source of loss that is less than about 250 mW at the operating wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention provides optical fiber coating systems and coated optical fibers. According to one embodiment of the invention, a coated optical fiber includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding; and a primary coating encapsulating the optical fiber, the primary coating having a Young's modulus of about 5 MPa or less, the primary coating being the cured reaction product of a primary curable composition having a gel time less than about 1.4 seconds at a UV intensity of 3.4 mW/cm2.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials suitable for use as secondary coatings of optical fibers or the re-coating of spliced optical fiber junctions. With regard to the latter use, the coating materials a preferably characterized by a Young's modulus that is at least about 1200 MPa, and an interfacial strength as measured by the rod and tube method of greater than 25 MPa.

Abstract: A system and methods for automating the testing of optical fiber are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, an automated conveyor system moves spools of optical fiber contained on pallets from testing station to testing station. According to another aspect of the present invention, a single spool is carried by a specially designed pallet. According to another aspect of present invention, an apparatus automatically strips, cleans, and cleaves the fiber ends once the spool reaches the apparatus. The fiber ends are then automatically manipulated into the appropriate location for a predetermined test to be performed. According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus automatically acquires a sample length of the optical fiber and strips, cleans, and cleaves the fiber ends of the sample. The sample length of the optical fiber is then manipulated into the appropriate location for a second predetermined test to be performed.

Abstract: An optical fiber inventory selection system selects optical fibers from inventory for use in a communication network. In one embodiment, the system includes a vendor computer system that executes code that performs a number of steps. Initially, the system accesses a plurality of optical parameters for each of a plurality of optical fiber reels that are located in inventory. Next, a customer order is received that includes customer requirements for at least a portion of the plurality of optical parameters and a total optical fiber length, and may include requirements for sets of reels, blocks of sets, and batches of blocks. Then, two optical parameters are selected from the plurality of optical parameters that are included in the customer requirements. Next, a number of the optical fiber reels are combined into optical fiber reel pairs that meet the customer requirements for the selected two optical parameters.