Abstract: A method is disclosed of making a coated optical fiber. The method may involve drawing a preform through a furnace to create a fiber having a desired diameter and cross sectional shape. The fiber is then drawn through a slurry, wherein the slurry includes elements including at least one of metallic elements, alloy elements or dielectric elements, and the slurry wets an outer surface of the fiber. As the fiber is drawn through the slurry, it is then drawn through a forming die to impart a wet coating having a desired thickness on an outer surface of the fiber. The wet fiber is then drawn through an oven or ovens configured to heat the wet coating sufficiently to produce a consolidated surface coating on the fiber as the fiber exits the oven or ovens.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of making a coated optical fiber. The method may involve drawing a preform through a furnace to create a fiber having a desired diameter and cross sectional shape. The fiber is then drawn through a slurry, wherein the slurry includes elements including at least one of metallic elements, alloy elements or dielectric elements, and the slurry wets an outer surface of the fiber. As the fiber is drawn through the slurry, it is then drawn through a forming die to impart a wet coating having a desired thickness on an outer surface of the fiber. The wet fiber is then drawn through an oven or ovens configured to heat the wet coating sufficiently to produce a consolidated surface coating on the fiber as the fiber exits the oven or ovens.

Abstract: A method for tracking a variable resonance condition in a plasma coil during creation of plasma from a gas flowing in a plasma torch adjacent to the plasma coil comprises: providing a radio-frequency (RF) power source comprising a power amplifier that generates a radio-frequency power signal with an adjustable operating frequency; providing a high-voltage ignition charge from said RF power source to the gas in plasma torch so as to create an electrical discharge through said gas so as to create a test sample comprising a partial plasma state within said plasma torch; and applying an RF power signal from said plasma coil to said test sample in said plasma torch, wherein said adjustable operating frequency of said power amplifier tracks said variable resonance condition of said plasma coil such that said test sample in the plasma torch achieves a full plasma state.

Abstract: A method for tracking a variable resonance condition in a plasma coil during creation of plasma from a gas flowing in a plasma torch adjacent to the plasma coil comprises: providing a radio-frequency (RF) power source comprising a power amplifier that generates a radio-frequency power signal with an adjustable operating frequency; providing a high-voltage ignition charge from said RF power source to the gas in plasma torch so as to create an electrical discharge through said gas so as to create a test sample comprising a partial plasma state within said plasma torch; and applying an RF power signal from said plasma coil to said test sample in said plasma torch, wherein said adjustable operating frequency of said power amplifier tracks said variable resonance condition of said plasma coil such that said test sample in the plasma torch achieves a full plasma state.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for implementing a power source including a power amplifier that generates a radio-frequency power signal with an adjustable operating frequency. The power amplifier also generates a reference phase signal that is derived from the radio-frequency power signal. An impedance match provides the radio-frequency power signal to a plasma coil that has a variable resonance condition. A phase probe is positioned adjacent to the plasma coil to generate a coil phase signal corresponding to the adjustable operating frequency. A phase-locked loop then generates an RF drive signal that is based upon a phase relationship between the reference phase signal and the coil phase signal. The phase-locked loop provides the RF drive signal to the power amplifier to control the adjustable operating frequency, so that the adjustable operating frequency then tracks the variable resonance condition.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for implementing a power source including a power amplifier that generates a radio-frequency power signal with an adjustable operating frequency. The power amplifier also generates a reference phase signal that is derived from the radio-frequency power signal. An impedance match provides the radio-frequency power signal to a plasma coil that has a variable resonance condition. A phase probe is positioned adjacent to the plasma coil to generate a coil phase signal corresponding to the adjustable operating frequency. A phase-locked loop then generates an RF drive signal that is based upon a phase relationship between the reference phase signal and the coil phase signal. The phase-locked loop provides the RF drive signal to the power amplifier to control the adjustable operating frequency, so that the adjustable operating frequency then tracks the variable resonance condition.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for implementing a power source including a power amplifier that generates a radio-frequency power signal with an adjustable operating frequency. The power amplifier also generates a reference phase signal that is derived from the radio-frequency power signal. An impedance match provides the radio-frequency power signal to a plasma coil that has a variable resonance condition. A phase probe is positioned adjacent to the plasma coil to generate a coil phase signal corresponding to the adjustable operating frequency. A phase-locked loop then generates an RF drive signal that is based upon a phase relationship between the reference phase signal and the coil phase signal. The phase-locked loop provides the RF drive signal to the power amplifier to control the adjustable operating frequency, so that the adjustable operating frequency then tracks the variable resonance condition.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for implementing a power source including a power amplifier that generates a radio-frequency power signal with an adjustable operating frequency. The power amplifier also generates a reference phase signal that is derived from the radio-frequency power signal. An impedance match provides the radio-frequency power signal to a plasma coil that has a variable resonance condition. A phase probe is positioned adjacent to the plasma coil to generate a coil phase signal corresponding to the adjustable operating frequency. A phase-locked loop then generates an RF drive signal that is based upon a phase relationship between the reference phase signal and the coil phase signal. The phase-locked loop provides the RF drive signal to the power amplifier to control the adjustable operating frequency, so that the adjustable operating frequency then tracks the variable resonance condition.

Abstract: The method includes the steps of assembling one or more blanks (1) in supporting means (2, 3) so that the or each blank occupies at least the space to be occupied by elongate electrodes and, without disturbing the position of the blanks relative to said supporting means, removing material from all said blanks to generate said electrodes in position in said supporting means. Preferably the material is removed by an electrode-discharge machining (EDM) process, e.g. diesinking. The method avoids time-consuming alignment of preformed electrodes in said supporting means.

Abstract: A method of producing clad glass rod of uniform diameter from which an optical fibre is drawn. The rate of drawing of the rod from a glass melt and the diameter of the drawn rod are sensed and the sensed values are fed to a coarse open loop control and a high gain closed loop control which regulate the draw speed of the rod and the movement of a cooling jacket which cools the rod as it is drawn.