Abstract: An optical fiber which is enclosed within a polymeric jacket. At least a portion of the jacket material comprises a particulate material which is at least partially soluble in water, such that a solution can be formed which has reduced reactivity toward the optical fiber, relative to pure water. An amount of such material is incorporated in the jacket, sufficient to delay the expected onset of accelerated fiber fatigue in a standard fatigue test by at least a factor of 2 relative to an otherwise similar fiber enclosed within a jacket which is free of the particulate material.

Abstract: A silica fiber coated with an organosilsesquioxane polymer guide light and evidences excellent mechanical integrity under adverse conditions of temperature and humidity. The polymer serves as a suitable coating and cladding for silica-based fibers designed for low fabrication cost fiber optic applications, as a replacement for plastic coatings on silica-based fibers, and as a water barrier for fiber applications in humid environments. The polymeric material described evidences characteristics which are superior for both polymeric coatings (acrylate) and claddings (linear siloxanes).

Abstract: In the interest of producing high-strength splice connections between silica-based glass fibers a method of using a tri-particle flow of gases for flame fusion is disclosed. An outer relatively high-velocity flow of oxygen surrounds an intermediate, lower-velocity flow of chlorine or oxygen which in turn surrounds a central flow of H.sub.2, D.sub.2, NH.sub.3, or ND.sub.3.Particularly high strengths are achieved when a central flow of hydrogen or deuterium and an intermediate flow of chlorine are used in such a fashion as to heat fiber ends to be spliced to temperatures of 500 degrees C. and beyond only after these ends have been enveloped by chlorine.

Abstract: The disclosed device is an analog computer for analyzing data from measurements of physical phenomena or manufacturing processes involving random quantities. The computer includes noise generators whose amplitudes and spectra can be controlled to represent the random variables of the physical system or process under investigation. The random signals, and any periodic signals which may be involved, are fed into the circuit analog of the physical system. The output of the circuit analog is fed into a probability density circuit. The output represents the response of the physical system to the input variables. When the input amplitudes are adjusted to match the output to the measured data, the input levels indicate the relative importance of the input variables to the behavior of the physical system. The computer has been used to analyze the spin resonance line shapes of impurities in glasses.