Abstract: Disclosed herein are ceramic materials comprising a ceramic phase and a glass phase and at least one of a reduced alkali content or a reduced iron content. Ceramic materials having relatively low creep rates are also disclosed herein, as well as glass forming bodies comprising such materials, and methods for making glass articles using such forming bodies. Refractory bricks for constructing glass manufacturing vessels are also disclosed. Methods for treating ceramic materials to reduce at least one of the alkali or iron content are further disclosed herein.

Abstract: What is disclosed includes OD-doped synthetic silica glass capable of being used in optical elements for use in lithography below about 300 nm. OD-doped synthetic silica glass was found to have significantly lower polarization-induced birefringence value than non-OD-doped silica glass with comparable concentration of OH. Also disclosed are processes for making OD-dopes synthetic silica glasses, optical member comprising such glasses, and lithographic systems comprising such optical member. The glass is particularly suitable for immersion lithographic systems due to the exceptionally low polarization-induced birefringence values at about 193 nm.

Abstract: What is disclosed includes OD-doped synthetic silica glass capable of being used in optical elements for use in lithography below about 300 nm. OD-doped synthetic silica glass was found to have significantly lower polarization-induced birefringence value than non-OD-doped silica glass with comparable concentration of OH. Also disclosed are processes for making OD-doped synthetic silica glasses, optical member comprising such glasses, and lithographic systems comprising such optical member. The glass is particularly suitable for immersion lithographic systems due to the exceptionally low polarization-induced birefringence values at about 193 nm.

Abstract: Microstructured optical fiber and method of making. Glass soot is deposited and then consolidated under conditions which are effective to trap a portion of the consolidation gases in the glass to thereby produce a non-periodic array of voids which may then be used to form a void containing cladding region in an optical fiber. Preferred void producing consolidation gases include nitrogen, argon, CO2, oxygen, chlorine, CF4, CO, SO2 and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides doped titania-doped silica glass articles having low thermal expansions and low variations in thermal expansion. According to one embodiment of the invention, a titania-doped silica glass article has a titania content of between about 5 wt % and about 9 wt %; a coefficient of thermal expansion of between about ?30 ppb/° C. and about +30 ppb/° C. at a temperature between 15° C. and 30° C.; and a variation in coefficient of thermal expansion of less than about 5 ppb/° C. at a temperature between 15° C and 30° C.

Abstract: Disclosed are high purity synthetic silica glass material having a high OH concentration homogeneity in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and process of making the same. The glass has high refractive index homogeneity. The glass can have high internal transmission of at least 99.65%/cm at 193 nm. The process does not require a post-sintering homogenization step. The controlling factors for high compositional homogeneity, thus high refractive index homogeneity, include high initial local soot density uniformity in the soot preform and slow sintering, notably isothermal treatment during consolidation.

Abstract: Disclosed are high purity synthetic silica material having an internal transmission at 193 nm of at least 99.65%/cm and method of preparing such material. The material is also featured by a high compositional homogeneity in a plane transverse to the intended optical axis. The soot-to-glass process for making the material includes a step of consolidating the soot preform in the presence of H2O and/or O2.

Abstract: Optical waveguide fiber having low water peak as well as optical waveguide fiber preforms and methods of making optical waveguide fiber preforms from which low water peak and/or low hydrogen aged attenuation optical waveguide fibers are formed, including optical waveguide fiber and preforms made via OVD. The fibers may be hydrogen resistant, i.e. exhibit low hydrogen aged attenuation. A low water peak, hydrogen resistant optical waveguide fiber is disclosed which exhibits an optical attenuation at a wavelength of about 1383 nm which is less than or equal to an optical attenuation exhibited at a wavelength of about 1310 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a synthetic silica glass optical material having high resistance to optical damage by ultraviolet radiation in the ultraviolet wavelength range, particularly in the wavelength less than about 250 nm and particularly, exhibiting a low laser induced wavefront distortion; specifically a laser induced wavefront distortion, measured at 633 nm, of between about ?1.0 and 1.0 nm/cm when subjected to 10 billion pulses of a laser operating at approximately 193 nm and at a fluence of approximately 70 ?J/cm2. The synthetic silica glass optical material of the present invention comprises OH concentration levels of less than about 600 ppm, preferably less than 200 ppm, and H2 concentration levels less than about 5.0×1017 molecules/cm3,and preferably less than about 2.0×1017 molecules/cm3.

Abstract: An optical waveguide fiber or body having a doped outer region which can be utilized in an optical coupler, a preform which can serve as the precursor for the fiber, an optical coupler, and methods of making same. Water, for example in the form of H2O and/or D2O, may be added to the cladding of the optical waveguide fiber or body.

Abstract: The present invention provides doped titania-doped silica glass articles having low thermal expansions and low variations in thermal expansion. According to one embodiment of the invention, a titania-doped silica glass article has a titania content of between about 5 wt % and about 9 wt %; a coefficient of thermal expansion of between about ?30 ppb/° C. and about +30 ppb/° C. at a temperature between 15° C. and 30° C.; and a variation in coefficient of thermal expansion of less than about 5 ppb/° C. at a temperature between 15° C. and 30° C.

Abstract: Electrical connectors are provided which include a hollow housing formed of electrically conductive metal, a dieletric sleeve which fits into the housing and a resilient roll-formed central signal-carrying contact that is retained by one-way press fit engagement in the dieletric sleeve. The housing is upset against the dielectric sleeve, as by staking, to assure retention of the dieletric sleeve therein. The housing includes mounting legs which are straight and are polygonal in cross-section for press-fit engagement in openings in a circuit board to mount the connector. The legs on one side of the body have cross-sections at different angular orientations relative to a radius of the body than the legs on another side.

Abstract: A strippable, shielded electrical cable comprises a plurality of elongate, parallel-spaced electrical conductors encased in a casing of electrical insulation. At least one of the conductors, preferably located at a position other than at the marginal ends of the cable has an exposed portion free of casing material. An electrically conductive wire mesh shield overlies the casing and is in electrical contact with the exposed conductor portions. A top layer of electrical insulation overlies the wire mesh shield. A release sheet of electrical insulation is disposed between the conductive shield and the cover layer. A first adhesive is on the lower surface of the sheet facing the shield, the first adhesive being removably adhered to the metallic wire mesh shield. The first adhesive and a portion of the casing material are removably adhered to each other through the interstitial openings of the wire mesh.