Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making fused silica glass. 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, thereby forming finely divided amorphous soot. 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. The invention further relates to an apparatus for forming fused silica from liquid, preferably halide-free, silicon-containing reactants which includes: a combustion burner which, in operation, generates a flame; an injector for supplying a liquid silicon-containing compound to the flame to convert the compound by thermal oxidative decomposition to a finely divided amorphous soot; and a receptor surface on which the soot is deposited.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispersion compensated multimode waveguide fiber link. The dispersion of essentially any wavelength can be compensated by adding a compensating waveguide fiber to the link, the compensating waveguide having a profile shape and a &lgr;p wavelength which counters dispersion caused by the original waveguide fiber of the link. Analytical expressions relating the compensator waveguide profile and &lgr;p to the original link and compensated profile and &lgr;p are provided for the embodiment which includes a profiles.