Abstract: Methods of selecting, from a set of like optical fibers, a subset of optical fibers that can meet both short-wavelength and target-wavelength bandwidth requirements are disclosed. The method includes obtaining short-wavelength bandwidth data from DMD measurements, and determining a peak wavelength for each optical fiber. A target-wavelength bandwidth is then calculated using the determined peak wavelengths. The calculated target bandwidth is then compared to the short-wavelength and target-wavelength bandwidth requirements to identify which of the optical fibers satisfy these requirements.

Abstract: A submerged combustion melter and burner therefor. The burner may include a first tube having a scaled distal end and a second tube concentric to the first tube, the second tube having a partially sealed distal end with an opening for receiving the first tube, where an annular space is defined between the first and second tubes. The burner further includes a first gas port in the sealed distal end of the first tube, the first gas port supplying a first gas, a second gas port in a distal end of the second tube, the second gas port supplying a second gas to the annular space, and a nozzle on the proximate ends of the first and second tubes.

Abstract: A submerged combustion melter and burner therefor. The burner may include a first tube having a scaled distal end and a second tube concentric to the first tube, the second tube having a partially sealed distal end with an opening for receiving the first tube, where an annular space is defined between the first and second tubes. The burner further includes a first gas port in the sealed distal end of the first tube, the first gas port supplying a first gas, a second gas port in a distal end of the second tube, the second gas port supplying a second gas to the annular space, and a nozzle on the proximate ends of the first and second tubes.

Abstract: A burner for submerged combustion melting that mixes a first gas and a second gas inside the burner and emits the mixed gas through a nozzle for combustion below the surface of the material being melted. The burner includes a hollow tube and a static mixer inside the tube that mixes the first gas and the second gas as they travel through the tube. The mixed first and second gas exits a nozzle on a top end of the tube and is ignited to generate a flame below the surface of the material being melted, which may be a glass material.

Abstract: A swirling burner 100 for submerged combustion melting that swirls at least one of a first gas and a second gas exiting the burner. The burner includes a central tube for delivering the first gas a nozzle and an outer tube for delivering a second gas to the nozzle. Helical vanes or channels are provided in at least one of the central tube and the outer tube to cause a least one of the first gas and the second gas exiting the burner to swirl.

Abstract: An optical fiber link that utilizes concatenated primary and compensating multimode optical fibers is disclosed. The primary optical fiber has a first relative refractive index profile with a first alpha value ?40 of about 2.1 that provides for a minimum amount of intermodal dispersion of guided modes at a peak wavelength ?P40 in the range from 840 nm to 860 nm, and has a first bandwidth BW40 of 2 GHz·km or greater. The compensating optical fiber has a second relative refractive index profile with a second alpha value ?60, and wherein ?0.9?(?60??40)??0.1, and a peak wavelength ?P60 greater than 880 nm. The optical fiber link has improved bandwidth and data rates for first and second optical signals within first and second wavelength ranges, respectively.

Abstract: Multimode optical fiber systems with adjustable chromatic modal dispersion compensation are disclosed, wherein the system includes a VCSEL light source and primary and secondary optically coupled multimode optical fibers. Because the VCSEL light source has a wavelength spectrum that radially varies, its use with the primary multimode optical fiber creates chromatic modal dispersion that reduces bandwidth. The compensating multimode optical fiber is designed to have a difference in alpha parameter relative to the primary multimode optical fiber of ?0.1?????0.9. This serves to create a modal delay opposite to the chromatic modal dispersion. The compensation is achieved by using a select length of the compensating multimode optical fiber optically coupled to an output end of the primary multimode optical fiber. The compensating multimode optical fiber can be configured to be bend insensitive.

Abstract: A multimode optical fiber includes: (i) a graded index glass core having a radius R1 in the range of 20 microns to 50 microns, a maximum relative refractive index ?1MAX in the range between 0.5% and 3%; a graded index having a profile with (a) by an alpha (?) parameter wherein 1.9???2.2, and (b) a deviation from the alpha profile in at least one region of the core, such that the difference in the refractive index delta of the core from that determined by the core alpha value, at the radius R1 is less than 0.001, and (ii) a cladding surrounding and in contact with the core, wherein the fiber has an bandwidth greater than 5000 MHz-km at a wavelength ? where ??800 nm.

Abstract: Multimode optical fiber systems with adjustable chromatic modal dispersion compensation are disclosed, wherein the system includes a VCSEL light source and primary and secondary optically coupled multimode optical fibers. Because the VCSEL light source has a wavelength spectrum that radially varies, its use with the primary multimode optical fiber creates chromatic modal dispersion that reduces bandwidth. The compensating multimode optical fiber is designed to have a difference in alpha parameter relative to the primary multimode optical fiber of ?0.1?????0.9. This serves to create a modal delay opposite to the chromatic modal dispersion. The compensation is achieved by using a select length of the compensating multimode optical fiber optically coupled to an output end of the primary multimode optical fiber. The compensating multimode optical fiber can be configured to be bend insensitive.

Abstract: Methods for modifying multi-mode optical fiber manufacturing processes are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for modifying a process for manufacturing multi-mode optical fiber includes measuring at least one characteristic of a multi-mode optical fiber. The at least one characteristic is a modal bandwidth or a differential mode delay at one or more wavelengths. The method further includes determining a measured peak wavelength of the multi-mode optical fiber based on the measured characteristic, determining a difference between the target peak wavelength and the measured peak wavelength, and modifying the process for manufacturing multi-mode optical fiber based on the difference between the target peak wavelength and the measured peak wavelength.

Abstract: A multimode optical fiber includes: (i) a graded index glass core having a radius R1 in the range of 20 microns to 50 microns, a maximum relative refractive index ?1MAX in the range between 0.5% and 3%; a graded index having a profile with (a) by an alpha (?) parameter wherein 1.9???2.2, and (b) a deviation from the alpha profile in at least one region of the core, such that the difference in the refractive index delta of the core from that determined by the core alpha value, at the radius R1 is less than 0.001, and (ii) a cladding surrounding and in contact with the core, wherein the fiber has an bandwidth greater than 5000 MHz-km at a wavelength ? where ??800 nm.

Abstract: Multimode optical fiber systems with adjustable chromatic modal dispersion compensation are disclosed, wherein the system includes a VCSEL light source and primary and secondary optically coupled multimode optical fibers. Because the VCSEL light source has a wavelength spectrum that radially varies, its use with the primary multimode optical fiber creates chromatic modal dispersion that reduces bandwidth. The compensating multimode optical fiber is designed to have a difference in alpha parameter relative to the primary multimode optical fiber of ?0.1?????0.9. This serves to create a modal delay opposite to the chromatic modal dispersion. The compensation is achieved by using a select length of the compensating multimode optical fiber optically coupled to an output end of the primary multimode optical fiber. The compensating multimode optical fiber can be configured to be bend insensitive.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for vaporizing liquid precursor material for use in a vapor deposition process are disclosed. The method for vaporizing liquid precursor material includes introducing a flow of liquid precursor material into an expansion chamber and directing the flow of liquid precursor material towards a wall of the chamber. The wall of the chamber is heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize a first portion of the flow of liquid precursor material while a second portion of the flow of liquid precursor material remains in a liquid state and a third portion of the liquid precursor material is formed into gel. The expansion chamber is continuously drained as the flow of liquid precursor material is introduced into the expansion chamber. The chamber is heated to a temperature to produce a sufficient amount of the second portion of the liquid precursor material to flush the gel from the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making silica. A liquid, preferably halide-free, silicon-containing compound capable of being converted by thermal oxidative decomposition to SiO2 is provided and introduced directly into the flame of a combustion burner, which converts the compound to silica, thereby forming finely divided amorphous soot. The soot is vaporized at the site where the liquid is converted into silica by pneumatically atomizing the liquid with a stream of oxygen gas, or a mixture of oxygen gas and nitrogen gas. The amorphous soot is deposited on a receptor surface where, either substantially simultaneously with or subsequently to its deposition, the soot is consolidated into a body of fused silica glass.