Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a composite article from a composite material. The apparatus comprising: a pulsed broadband radiation source comprising a flashlamp and a light guide adapted to guide light emitted by the pulsed broadband radiation source to a target area. The light guide comprises at least a portion ahead of the pulsed broadband radiation source, relative to the target area, comprising a light transmitting material.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a composite article from a composite material. The apparatus comprising: a pulsed broadband radiation source comprising a flashlamp and a light guide adapted to guide light emitted by the pulsed broadband radiation source to a target area. The light guide comprises at least a portion ahead of the pulsed broadband radiation source, relative to the target area, comprising a light transmitting material.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a composite article from a composite material. The apparatus comprising: a pulsed broadband radiation source comprising a flashlamp and a light guide adapted to guide light emitted by the pulsed broadband radiation source to a target area. The light guide comprises at least a portion ahead of the pulsed broadband radiation source, relative to the target area, comprising a light transmitting material.

Abstract: A birefringent elongate waveguide for guiding light, comprises: a core region (110), comprising an elongate region of relatively low refractive index; and a cladding region (100), comprising elongate regions (105) of relatively low refractive index interspersed with elongate regions (117,120) of relatively high refractive index. In a transverse cross-section of the waveguide, a (5) relatively high refractive index boundary region (115) is provided that surrounds the core region and has either (1) at most two-fold rotational symmetry or (2) a rotational symmetry that reduces the rotational symmetry of the waveguide to at most two-fold rotational symmetry. The symmetry of the boundary region (115) results at least in part from azimuthal variations therein, which are substantially uncharacteristic of the cladding region (100).

Abstract: An elongate waveguide for guiding light including a core having an elongate region of relatively low refractive index; a microstructured region around the core comprising elongate regions of relatively low refractive index interspersed with elongate regions of relatively high refractive index; and a boundary at the interface between the core and the microstructured region, the boundary including, in the transverse cross-section, a region of relatively high refractive index, which is connected to the microstructured region at a plurality of nodes, and at least one relatively enlarged region around the boundary, the enlarged region having a major dimension and a minor dimension, wherein the length of the major dimension divided by the length of the minor dimension is more than 3.0.

Abstract: An elongate waveguide for guiding light including a core having an elongate region of relatively low refractive index; a microstructured region around the core comprising elongate regions of relatively low refractive index interspersed with elongate regions of relatively high refractive index; and a boundary at the interface between the core and the microstructured region, the boundary including, in the transverse cross-section, a region of relatively high refractive index, which is connected to the microstructured region at a plurality of nodes, and at least one relatively enlarged region around the boundary, the enlarged region having a major dimension and a minor dimension, wherein the length of the major dimension divided by the length of the minor dimension is more than 3.0.

Abstract: Improved photonic band-gap optical fibre The present invention relates in particular to improved photonic band-gap optical fibres that can confine light to a core region of the fibre by the action of both a photonic band-gap cladding and an antiresonant core boundary, at the interface between the core and cladding.

Abstract: An elongate waveguide for guiding light includes a core having an elongate region of relatively low refractive index; a microstructured region around the core having elongate regions of relatively low refractive index interspersed with elongate regions of relatively high refractive index; and a boundary at the interface between the core and the microstructured region, the boundary including in the transverse cross-section, a region of relatively high refractive index, which is connected to the microstructured region at a plurality of nodes, at least one relatively enlarged region around the boundary (and excluding a boundary having twelve nodes and six enlarged regions substantially at a mid-point between six pairs of relatively more-widely-spaced apart neighboring nodes).

Abstract: Novel preforms and methods of making novel preforms are described. The preforms are suitable for being drawn into photonic bandgap optical fibres. In one form, the preform comprises a stack of elongate members having, in transverse cross section, a triangular close-packed arrangement of circular cross section capillaries, which define interstitial regions containing solid rods. The stack is supported around a relatively large capillary, which defines an inner region of the stack. The stack may be adapted by varying the number of rods in any given interstitial region, in order to generate various different configurations of cladding structure, which can be made into optical fibres having surprising operational characteristics, such as a split gap.