Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber suitable for the manufacture of optical fiber couplers and having low bend loss, low splice loss, and low attenuation. The optical fibers according to one aspect of the invention have bending loss of less than 0.5 dB at 1560 nm when wrapped 5 turns around a 20 mm mandrel; and an average fiber pull test loss of less than 0.1 dB in the wavelength range of 1530 nm to 1550 nm. The present invention also includes optical fiber components made from these optical fibers.

Abstract: A dispersion compensating (DC) fiber preferably including a central segment having a relative refractive index, a depressed moat segment, an intermediate segment, an annular ring segment and a cladding layer. The relative refractive index profile of the DC fiber is selected to provide negative dispersion, negative dispersion slope, a &kgr; value of less than or equal to about 100, and MPI of less than −40 dB at 1550 nm. The DC fiber preferably has a pin array bend loss of less than or equal to about 30 dB at a wavelength of about 1550 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber suitable for the manufacture of optical fiber couplers and having low bend loss, low splice loss, and low attenuation. The optical fibers according to one aspect of the invention have bending loss of less than 0.5 dB at 1560 nm when wrapped 5 turns around a 20 mm mandrel; and an average fiber pull test loss of less than 0.1 dB in the wavelength range of 1530 nm to 1550 nm. The present invention also includes optical fiber components made from these optical fibers.

Abstract: A dispersion compensating (DC) fiber preferably including a central segment having a relative refractive index, a depressed moat segment, an intermediate segment, an annular ring segment and a cladding layer. The relative refractive index profile of the DC fiber is selected to provide negative dispersion, negative dispersion slope, a &kgr; value of less than or equal to about 100, and MPI of less than −40 dB at 1550 nm. The DC fiber preferably has a pin array bend loss of less than or equal to about 30 dB at a wavelength of about 1550 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single mode optical waveguide fiber having a core region refractive index profile designed to provide a highly non-linear refractive index. The core index profile of the highly non-linear waveguide is an &agr;-profile which has pre-selected values of relative refractive-index and core diameter so as to retain the advantageous optical waveguide properties of low attenuation, properly placed zero dispersion and cut off wavelengths, low, positive total dispersion over a pre-selected wavelength range, and low dispersion slope.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a polarization retaining single-mode optical fiber. Longitudinal grooves are formed on opposite sides of a cylindrically-shaped core perform having a glass core surrounded by cladding glass. The core preform is inserted into a glass tube, the tube is shrunk onto the core preform, and the interface between the core preform and the tube is fused to form a solid preform having longitudinal apertures on opposite sides of the core. An etchant gas is flowed through the apertures to enlarge the apertures into holes having a substantially round cross-section. Inserted into each aperture is a stress rod formed of glass having a coefficient of expansion different from that of the cladding glass. The resultant draw blank is drawn to form a single-mode optical fiber having a core that is subjected to a stress-induced birefringence.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a polarization retaining single-mode optical fiber. There is initially formed a draw blank having diametrically opposed longitudinal apertures in the cladding glass parallel to the core glass region. The draw blank is drawn into a fiber under such conditions that the apertures close as the fiber is being drawn. The flow of surrounding glass, including the core glass region, toward the collapsing apertures, causes the core to assume an elliptical shape. The apertures are of such cross-sectional area and spacing from the core that the core develops the desired aspect ratio.