Abstract: A method for manufacturing a final optical fiber preform via overcladding of a primary preform having a cross section area is disclosed. The method includes at least one manufacturing step of the primary preform by deposit of an inner cladding and of a central core inside a tube of fluorine-doped silica, the tube being chosen such that it has a cross section area that is maximally about 15% less than the cross section area of the primary preform. With the method of the invention it is possible to manufacture a preform of large capacity at reduced cost which allows the drawing of an optical fiber having reduced transmission losses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of heat treating quartz glass deposition tubes at between 900° C. and 1200° C. for at least 115 hours. The resulting deposition tubes are useful in forming optical preforms that can yield optical fibers having reduced added loss.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a final optical fiber preform via overcladding of a primary preform having a cross section area is disclosed. The method includes at least one manufacturing step of the primary preform by deposit of an inner cladding and of a central core inside a tube of fluorine-doped silica, the tube being chosen such that it has a cross section area that is maximally about 15% less than the cross section area of the primary preform. With the method of the invention it is possible to manufacture a preform of large capacity at reduced cost which allows the drawing of an optical fiber having reduced transmission losses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma torch for overcladding a primary preform of an optical fiber. The plasma torch includes a confinement tube for confining an induced plasma and a torch base. The torch base has a ceramic surface internal to the confinement tube. The plasma torch has extended life even at high input powers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a final optical fiber preform by overcladding, said method comprising the steps of providing a primary preform; positioning said primary preform within at least one tube, wherein the at least one tube partly covers the primary preform to create a zone to be overcladded, being an overclad zone, which overclad zone is located on the primary preform outside the at least one tube; injecting a gas into the annular space between the primary preform and the at least one tube under overpressure relative to the pressure outside the at least one tube; overcladding the primary preform in the overclad zone with an overcladding material using an overcladding device. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method. The invention allows overcladding a primary preform at low cost while maximally limiting the incorporation of impurities into the silica overclad.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical fiber preform (100) consists in producing a primary preform (110); drawing out an end portion (115) of the primary preform (110) to produce a tail portion (115); thickening (120) the primary preform; and forming a cone (130) on the drawn out tail portion at the end of the primary preform. As a result of drawing out an end portion of the primary preform, the amount of primary preform required for cone formation is reduced while simultaneously optimizing cone length and angle appropriate to good initiation of fiber drawing.