Abstract: An apparatus for curing a coating composition disposed on a glass optical fiber. The apparatus includes a reflector, the reflector having an interior surface delineating a boundary of a cavity, the interior surface including a plurality of portions, each of the portions extending along a different curved contour. Furthermore, each of the plurality of portions is configured to reflect curing light so that the reflected curing light is concentrated to a curing zone within the cavity such that all the reflected curing light within the curing zone has an intensity of about 60% or greater relative to a maximum intensity of the reflected curing light. A fiber location for the glass optical fiber is located within the curing zone. Additionally, the plurality of portions includes at least a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a different degree of curvature than the second portion.

Abstract: An optical fiber production system includes an annealing furnace having a furnace inlet, a furnace outlet, and a process tube extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet, the process tube having a process tube wall and a heating zone including at least one heating element. The optical fiber production system also includes a gas distribution assembly fluidly coupled to the furnace outlet and structurally configured to induce gas flow from the gas distribution assembly into the process tube such that gas flows within the process tube in an upflow direction.

Abstract: An optical fiber production system includes an annealing furnace having a furnace inlet, a furnace outlet, and a process tube extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet, the process tube having a process tube wall and a heating zone including at least one heating element. The optical fiber production system also includes a gas distribution assembly fluidly coupled to the furnace outlet and structurally configured to induce gas flow from the gas distribution assembly into the process tube such that gas flows within the process tube in an upflow direction.

Abstract: According to some embodiments a method of processing an optical fiber comprises the steps of: (i) drawing the fiber at a drawing rate of at least 30 m/sec; and (ii) cooling the drawn fiber in a gas at an average cooling rate less than 5000° C./s, such that said cooling reduces the temperature of the fiber from an entering temperature in the range between 1500° C. and 1700° C. to another temperature in the range between 1200° C. and 1400° C., the gas being at a temperature between 800° C. and 1500° C.; and the thermal conductivity ? of the gas being not greater than 1.5×10?4 cal/cm-s-K for at least one temperature within a range of 800° C. to 1500° C. at one atm (atmosphere) pressure absolute.

Abstract: According to some embodiments a method of processing an optical fiber comprises the steps of: (i) drawing the fiber at a drawing rate of at least 30 m/sec; and (ii) cooling the drawn fiber in a gas at an average cooling rate less than 5000° C./s, such that said cooling reduces the temperature of the fiber from an entering temperature in the range between 1500° C. and 1700° C. to another temperature in the range between 1200° C. and 1400° C., the gas being at a temperature between 800° C. and 1500° C.; and the thermal conductivity ? of the gas being not greater than 1.5×10?4 cal/cm-s-K for at least one temperature within a range of 800° C. to 1500° C. at one atm (atmosphere) pressure absolute.