Abstract: A method is disclosed of making a coated optical fiber. The method may involve drawing a preform through a furnace to create a fiber having a desired diameter and cross sectional shape. The fiber is then drawn through a slurry, wherein the slurry includes elements including at least one of metallic elements, alloy elements or dielectric elements, and the slurry wets an outer surface of the fiber. As the fiber is drawn through the slurry, it is then drawn through a forming die to impart a wet coating having a desired thickness on an outer surface of the fiber. The wet fiber is then drawn through an oven or ovens configured to heat the wet coating sufficiently to produce a consolidated surface coating on the fiber as the fiber exits the oven or ovens.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a glass, ceramic or composite material. The method may involve initially forming a plurality of tubes and then performing a coating operation to coat the plurality of tubes with materials containing metal or metalloid elements, including inorganic compounds, organometallic compounds, or coordination complexes to form coated tubes. The method may further include performing at least one of a thermal operation or a thermochemical operation on the coated tubes to form a solid glass, ceramic, or composite structure with dimensions representing at least one of a rod or fiber.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a glass, ceramic or composite material. The method may involve initially forming a plurality of tubes and then performing a coating operation to coat the plurality of tubes with materials containing metal or metalloid elements, including inorganic compounds, organometallic compounds, or coordination complexes to form coated tubes. The method may further include performing at least one of a thermal operation or a thermochemical operation on the coated tubes to form a solid glass, ceramic, or composite structure with dimensions representing at least one of a rod or fiber.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of making a coated optical fiber. The method may involve drawing a preform through a furnace to create a fiber having a desired diameter and cross sectional shape. The fiber is then drawn through a slurry, wherein the slurry includes elements including at least one of metallic elements, alloy elements or dielectric elements, and the slurry wets an outer surface of the fiber. As the fiber is drawn through the slurry, it is then drawn through a forming die to impart a wet coating having a desired thickness on an outer surface of the fiber. The wet fiber is then drawn through an oven or ovens configured to heat the wet coating sufficiently to produce a consolidated surface coating on the fiber as the fiber exits the oven or ovens.

Abstract: A child support device including a collapsible frame and removable seat. The collapsible frame includes a lower frame for rocking atop a support surface and an upper frame for supporting the removable seat. Lower and upper frame ends are connected to a folding mechanism such that manipulation of one of the lower or upper frames causes a generally synchronized movement of the other of the lower or upper frames. In example embodiments, movement of the lower frame from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration similarly causes the upper frame to move from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration.

Abstract: A polarization modulator device for modulating a polarization of an electromagnetic wave includes a corrugated metallic waveguide having an interior cylindrical opening defined therein and situated along a longitudinal axis of the waveguide. The corrugated metallic waveguide also has a first waveguide section and a second waveguide section. The waveguide sections are separated by a dielectric break. A central structure is situated along the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. The central structure is supported substantially in the center of the interior cylindrical opening of the waveguide. The cylinder is substantially situated within the dielectric break of the waveguide. A magnetic field source is configured to permit a controllable magnetic field in the cylinder, wherein the magnetic field modulates a polarization of the electromagnetic wave by an angle related to the strength of the magnetic field. A polarimeter using the polarization modulator is also described.