Abstract: Methods of forming an overclad portion of an optical fiber are described which include positioning a core cane member in an overclad tube to form a rod and tube assembly. Thereafter, glass soot pellets are positioned in the rod and tube assembly between the core cane member and an interior sidewall of the overclad tube. The rod and tube assembly is then redrawn under conditions effective to form the overclad tube and the glass soot pellets into a continuous, void-free glass layer surrounding the core cane member at a sintering time tsinter of at least 1800 seconds thereby forming an overclad portion of an optical fiber.

Abstract: Bend resistant multimode optical fibers are disclosed herein. Multimode optical fibers disclosed herein comprise a core region and a cladding region surrounding and directly adjacent to the core region, the cladding region comprising a first region having index delta percent ?2, a depressed-index annular portion having ?3, and a third annular region surrounding the depressed annular region comprising refractive index delta percent ?4; wherein ?1MAX>?4>?2>?3, wherein the difference between ?4 and ?2 is greater than or equal to 0.03%.

Abstract: An optical fiber having increased mechanical strength is provided. The optical fiber includes an over cladding layer that has a compressive stress of at least 100 MPa.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber includes providing a preform in a furnace, and drawing a plurality of optical fibers from the preform at a plurality of different draw tensions. A bandwidth characteristic of each of the optical fiber is drawn at the different draw tensions is measured. A draw tension setpoint is selected based on the measured bandwidth characteristic of each optical fiber and the draw tension is adjusted to the selected draw tension setpoint. The method further includes drawing from the preform a tuned optical fiber at the selected draw tension setpoint which provides peak bandwidth.

Abstract: Bend resistant multimode optical fibers are disclosed herein. Multimode optical fibers disclosed herein comprise a core region and a cladding region surrounding and directly adjacent to the core region, the cladding region comprising a first region having index delta percent ?2, a depressed-index annular portion having ?3, and a third annular region surrounding the depressed annular region comprising refractive index delta percent ?4; wherein ?1MAX>?4>?2>?3, wherein the difference between ?4 and ?2 is greater than or equal to 0.03%.

Abstract: Bend resistant multimode optical fibers are disclosed herein. Multimode optical fibers disclosed herein comprise a core region having a radius greater than 30 microns and a cladding region surrounding and directly adjacent to the core region, the cladding region comprising a depressed-index annular portion comprising a depressed relative refractive index. The fiber has a total outer diameter of less than 120 microns, and exhibits an overfilled bandwidth at 850 nm greater than 500 MHz-km.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber includes providing a preform in a furnace, and drawing a plurality of optical fibers from the preform at a plurality of different draw tensions. A bandwidth characteristic of each of the optical fiber is drawn at the different draw tensions is measured. A draw tension setpoint is selected based on the measured bandwidth characteristic of each optical fiber and the draw tension is adjusted to the selected draw tension setpoint. The method further includes drawing from the preform a tuned optical fiber at the selected draw tension setpoint which provides peak bandwidth.

Abstract: A microstructured optical fiber for transmitting optical signals comprised of light, the optical fiber comprising: a core region disposed about a longitudinal centerline and having a refractive index profile with a first refractive index, and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular void-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed voids; wherein maximum void diameter in nm is given by Dmax and the maximum void length in cm is not greater than 2.5×105×(dmax)?1.7.

Abstract: An optical fiber having increased mechanical strength is provided. The optical fiber includes an over cladding layer that has a compressive stress of at least 100 MPa.

Abstract: Methods of forming an overclad portion of an optical fiber are described which include positioning a core cane member in an overclad tube to form a rod and tube assembly. Thereafter, glass soot pellets are positioned in the rod and tube assembly between the core cane member and an interior sidewall of the overclad tube. The rod and tube assembly is then redrawn under conditions effective to form the overclad tube and the glass soot pellets into a continuous, void-free glass layer surrounding the core cane member at a sintering time tsinter of at least 1800 seconds thereby forming an overclad portion of an optical fiber.

Abstract: A microstructured optical fiber for transmitting optical signals comprised of light, the optical fiber comprising: a core region disposed about a longitudinal centerline and having a refractive index profile with a first refractive index, and a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region comprising an annular void-containing region comprised of non-periodically disposed voids; wherein maximum void diameter in nm is given by Dmax and the maximum void length in cm is not greater than 2.5×105×(dmax)?1.7.