Abstract: This invention relates to the production of high purity fused silica glass through oxidation and/or flame hydrolysis of a halide-free, organosilicon-R compound in vapor form having the following properties:(a) producing a gas stream of a halide-free silicon-containing compound in vapor form capable of being converted through thermal decomposition with oxidation or flame hydrolysis to SiO.sub.2 ;(b) passing said gas stream into the flame of a combustion burner to form amorphous particles of fused SiO.sub.2 ;(c) depositing said amorphous particles onto a support; and(d) either essentially simultaneously with said deposition or subsequently thereto consolidating said deposit of amorphous particles into a virtually nonporous body; the improvement comprising utilizing a halide-free, organosilicon-R compound in vapor form having the following properties:(1) a Si--R bond dissociation energy that is no higher than the dissociation energy of the Si--O bond;(2) a boiling point no higher than 350.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a doped glass body. The glass body is formed by adding a dopant to a glass preform, at least part of which has interconnective pores. The porous preform is immersed in a solution of a salt of the dopant dissolved in an organic solvent having no OH groups. The solvent is removed, and the porous glass preform is heat treated to consolidate it into a non-porous glassy body containing the dopant dispersed throughout at least a portion of the body. An OH-free solvent is selected because of its beneficial effect on the preform during the drying step. Whereas OH-containing solvents such as water and alcohol caused cracking and/or flaking of the outer surface of the porous preform following the drying step, an undamaged surface is formed by the present invention.

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.

Abstract: A method for preparing a homogenous fluoride glass containing high purity BaF.sub.2 through the CVD process using a gaseous mixture containing a barium .beta.-diketonate complex service as a first starting material and represented by the following general formula (1) of: ##STR1## where (i) R and R' are each --C(CH.sub.3).sub.3 ; or (ii) R is CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 and R' is --C(CH.sub.3).sub.3 ; or (iii) R and R' are each CF.sub.3 ;a gaseous or vaporizable compound of the metallic element constituting said fluoride glass, the gaseous or vaporizable compound serving as a second starting material; and a fluorine-containing gas serving as fluorinating agent. Further provided is a process for preparing a perform for a fluoride optical fiber which is low in transmission loss, by depositing the fluoride glass over the interior wall of a cylindrical tube or the wall of rod-like glass substrate through the CVD process following by collapsing.

Abstract: A glass preform is produced by forming a glass soot composite body having a core portion consisting of a solid glass and a peripheral portion consisting of a porous glass mass, removing trapped gas and water from pores of the soot composite body by heating the soot composite body under a pressure lower than several ten Torr. at a temperature at which the porous glass mass is not vitrified, filling the pores in the porous glass mass of the soot composite body with a gas containing SiF.sub.4, the partial pressure of which is a function of the desired specific difference of refractive index, thus uniformly adding fluorine to the soot glass mass, and vitrifying the fluorine-added soot glass mass into a transparent glass mass to form a glass preform.

Abstract: In the manufacture of optical fibers according to the PCVD method, a method is provided wherein the yield of the method (.eta.), in particular at increased deposition rates (m), is raised by reducing the geometrical taper, without forming optical tapers. This is obtained in that glass is deposited in layers on the inside of a glass tube and, simultaneously, on a glass rod having a circular cross-section, which rod is arranged inside the glass tube, such that its longitudinal axis coincides with that of the glass tube, the radius of the glass rod being adjusted to at most 0.67 times and at least 0.2 times the inner radius of the glass tube, and the glass rod being removed from the glass tube upon completion of the deposition process.

Abstract: Polarization-retaining optical fibres are manufactured according to the PCVD method, in which on the inside of a glass tube and, simultaneously on at least two glass rods which are arranged inside the glass tube such that their longitudinal axes run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the glass tube, glass is deposited in layers and the glass rods are removed from the glass tube upon completion of the glass deposition process. Alternatively, a single glass rod, the radial dimensions of which in two mutually perpendicular directions are in a ratio unequal to one, i.e. elliptical, is arranged in a glass tube such that its longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the glass tube.

Abstract: An article for use in producing silica optical fibers doped with a metal de obtained by synthesis from low pressure vapor reactants is made from an outer supporting tube extending along a longitudinal axis and having first and second longitudinally opposite ends and an inner surface on which silica and a dopant formed by a reaction between vapor-state reactants can be deposited over a longitudinally extending silica-deposition zone. Respective first and second joints engage the ends of the supporting tube and each have a fixed part and a rotating part. Each rotating part supports the respective end for rotation relative to the respective fixed part about the axis. At least one of the reactants is introduced into the supporting tube through the first joint and depleted gases are discharged through the second joint.

Abstract: The method includes collapsing a silica-based glass tube to make a preform and drawing fiber from the preform. Prior to collapsing the tube, one or more glass layers are formed on the inner surface of the tube by dip-coating the surface with a sol comprising a metal alkoxide dissolved in an alcoholic or aqueous solvent, polymerizing the sol to form a gel, and drying and sintering the gel. A substantial portion the dopant, present within the sintered gel, diffuses into at least one adjoining glass region. A wide selection of dopant materials, in the form of salts or alkoxides, are readily incorporated by dissolving them in the solvent.

Abstract: Apparatus for rapidly forming a porous glass preform is provided in which an array of burners is oscillated along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the preform. The oscillation amplitude is limited so that each burner deposits soot on only a portion of the preform, e.g., 20% of the preform. By controlling inter-burner variability and the air flow in the burner-array/preform region, preforms having substantially uniform diameter and axial properties are obtained.

Abstract: In a flame hydrolysis method for depositing glass soot used ultimately to make optical fiber, a reactant that forms the glassy soot stream is delivered to the torch (20) in liquid form and an ultrasonic nozzle (34) in the torch atomizes the reactant or breaks the reactant into a fine mist without the use of a gas.

Abstract: The present invention providesa process for the dehydrating and purifying treatment by heating a porous glass preform for an optical fiber by passing the porous glass preform through a muffle tube having a SiC layer at least on its inner surface at a high temperature under an atmosphere containing an inert gas and a silicon halogenide gas;a process for the fluorine-doping treatment by heating a porous glass preform for an optical fiber by passing a porous glass preform through a muffle tube having a SiC layer at least on its inner surface at a high temperature under an atmosphere containing a fluorine compound gas and an inert gas; anda process for the vitrifying treatment by heating a porous glass preform for an opticla fiber by passing the preform, which has been previously dehydrated and purified, through a muffle tube having a SiC layer at least on its inner surface at a high temperature under an atmosphere gas.

Abstract: In the manufacture of preforms for optical fibres, the materials of the core (.alpha.) and of the light-conducting cladding layer (.beta..sub.1) are previously deposited from the gaseous phase. Deposition time is here considerably reduced in that only the materials of the core (.alpha.) and a part of the light-conducting cladding layer (.beta..sub.1) are deposited from the gaseous phase and the remaining light-conducting cladding material (.beta..sub.2 +.beta..sub.3) is supplied as pre-formed tubes of cladding material.

Abstract: In order to eliminate the effect of water attack on silica optical fibres, the fibres are provided with a surface layer of silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride. The method proposed includes direct nitridation. This may be achieved by adding a nitriding atmosphere to the drawing furnace gases, or to the reactive gases (TiCl.sub.4 and SiCl.sub.4) incorporated in the flame of an oxyhydrogen torch for the formation of a compressive silica/titania layer on an optical fibre by a glass soot deposition and sintering process.

Abstract: An optical fiber (1) has an endface (2) which has been coated with a metal oxide coating (5) such that the light guiding core region (4) of the endface (2) is at least partially bounded by the coating (5) while being uncoated itself. The core region (4) has a different reflectivity than that of the boundary region (3). The fiber may be used in a system for aligning a fiber with an optical device (20).

Abstract: According to the present invention, a preform (7) for an optical fiber is made from a tube having a substrate layer (16) of fluorine-doped silica and a support layer (18) of non-doped silica. A cladding layer (8) of fluorine-doped silica and a core layer (10) of non-doped silica are formed on the inside surface of the tube by chemical vapor phase deposition. The optical fiber is subsequently obtained by collapsing the tube and drawing it. The invention is applicable to fabricating optical fibers.

Abstract: A method of producing glass bodies having regions with different optical refraction, including a basic body and a coating layer which is sintered onto the basic body, covers the basic body at least partially and is made of glass, which as it is doped, has an index of refraction differing from that of the glass of the basic body. The starting material for producing the cladding on the basis of pulverulent ceramic material is deformed into a self-supporting, unsintered porous green body, is dried and submitted to a cleaning procedure in a heated gas phase. The coating layer to be bonded onto the basic body is melted into glass in a subsequent combined doping/sintering procedure in a gas phase containing the doping agent at a temperature in the range from 1150.degree. to 1500.degree. C. and is sintered onto the basic body.

Abstract: Superconductive structures and a method of forming the same wherein an assembled mass (12) of superconductive particles, or of a mixture of superconductive particles and particles having other properties, are formed into a desired confined configuration and consolidated into a rigid useful unitized body through shock-wave treatment performed at relatively lower temperatures.

Abstract: A system for delivering a liquid reactant at high flow rates to an oxidation/flame hydrolysis glass soot deposition site. A first liquid only reactant is delivered to a flash vaporization chamber to form a thin film and mixed with oxygen after vaporization. Additional vaporized reactants are thereafter mixed with the vaporized first liquid prior to delivery to an oxidation/flame hydrolysis burner to form a glass soot outer cladding layer on a soot preform. The soot preform is subsequently fused to form a high quality glass blank for drawing into optical fiber.

Abstract: A mandrel (12) that is used for supporting a glass soot cylinder during consolidation into anoptical fiber preform is coated by chemical vapor deposition with a material selected from the group consisting of pyrolytic graphite and pyrolytic boron nitride.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing a homogeneous fluoride glass containing high purity BaF.sub.2 through the CVD process characterized in that the used gaseous mixture comprising: a barium .beta.-diketonate complex serving as a first starting material and represented by the following general formula (1) of: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, R' is a substituted alkyl group having fluorine atoms substituting hydrogen atoms and represented by C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 where n is an integer of from 1 to 3;a gaseous or vaporizable compound of the metallic element constituting said fluoride glass, the gaseous or vaporizable compound serving as a second starting material; and a fluorine-containing gas serving as fluorinating agent.

Abstract: A method of making an optical waveguide fiber with a fatigue resistant TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 outer cladding, and a substantially glass blank for drawing into optical fiber, wherein a glass soot TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 outermost layer, with an initial TiO.sub.2 concentration greater than 10.5 wt. %, is deposited on a preform, and the preform is exposed to an atmosphere of chlorine at a high temperature, and the resulting TiO.sub.2 concentration in the outermost layer of the TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 outer cladding of the substantially glass blank is less than the initial TiO.sub.2 concentration. In the glass blank form, the outermost layer includes a substantial volume percentage of crystalline phases and in the fiber form, the outermost layer includes inhomogeneities.

Abstract: An optical fibre of the single-mode type in which light travels in one polarization mode is formed from a single-mode quadruple-clad fibre, in which the dimension of the light-transmitting part of the fibre in a first direction perpendicular to the axis of the fibre differs from the dimension of the light-transmitting part in a second direction perpendicular to the axis of the fibre and the first direction.

Abstract: An integrated optoelectrical circuit is described. An apparatus and method are disclosed whereby planar optical waveguides are formed on Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, other ceramics, silicon, silica, and other glass substrates that are thin film wired. An interface coating of silicon or silicon dioxide is applied to a surface of the thin film wired substrates using a low temperature deposition process such as sputtering or chemical vapor deposition. Glass cladding and core layers are deposited onto the thin film coating using a flame hydrolysis deposition technique. With this invention, channel waveguides and integrated optical circuits can be formed on a common substrate with electronic IC chips.

Abstract: Reproducible doped optical fiber preforms having a predetermined dopant concentration level are fabricated by inserting a doped filament into a completed preform prior to consolidation and final collapse so that the filament and dopant materials are centrally located in the core region upon formation of the preform. Doped fiber is drawn from the doped preform using standard fiber drawing techniques.

Abstract: For producing a fiberoptic waveguide preforms by plasma pulse-induced chemical vapor deposition (PICVD), blank glass tubes are prepared having a continuously increasing internal diameter in the direction of gas flow. This type of blank compensates for the otherwise occurring decrease in the density of the layer-forming molecules due to pressure drop, thereby permitting the formation of a uniform masswise deposition of layer-forming molecules along the length of the tube. This permits the production of collapsed preforms having a series of coating layers of substantially uniform thickness.

Abstract: The inventive optical fiber communication system comprises Si-based amplifier fiber whose core comprises Ge, Al, and Er. The amplifier fiber has an effective index difference (.DELTA.n) greater than 0.03, an effective core diameter a less than 3.5 .mu.m, a maximum Al concentration in the core of at least 6 mole %, a mode field diameter at the pump wavelength that is less than 5 .mu.m, a V-number at the pump wavelength in the range 1.4-2.0, a cut-off wavelength less than 1.4 .mu.m, and an Er distribution whose effective diameter is less than that of the Ge distribution. The fiber has advantageous properties including low amplification threshold and noise. Disclosed is also a method of making optical fiber that can be used to produce fiber having characteristics (e.g., .DELTA.n>0.03, high Al concentration) not generally obtainable with prior art methods.

Abstract: An optical fiberglass preform having fluorine selectively added to its cladding is produced by:depositing soot of quartz glass on a pipe from starting member by using burners for synthesizing glass soot to form a porous glass preform consisting of a core porous glass body a peripheral portion of which has a larger bulk density than the other portion and a cladding porous glass body,heating said porous glass preform in a dehydration atmosphere while supplying dehydration gas through the pipe form starting member andheating and vitrifying the dehydrated porous glass preform in an atmosphere containing a fluorine-containing compound.

Abstract: A method for producing a glass preform for use in the fabrication of an optical fiber, including the steps of forming a glass soot preform from a glass-forming raw material and heating the soot preform to vitrify it, the soot preform being heated in an atmosphere comprising SiF.sub.4 under pressure higher than 1 atm. for a period of time sufficient to add fluorine, between the formation of the soot preform and the vitrification of it, fluorine being added at a high rate and in a large amount.

Abstract: Silica intended to form the core of an optical-fibre preform is deposited as an unvitrified soot inside a reaction tube, where a non-aqueous solution of dopant precursor(s) is then introduced without removing the tube from the lathe. The precursor(s) of the dopant(s) are dissolved in an anhydrous organic solvent. The solution containing the dopant precursor(s) is introduced into the reaction tube without removing the tube from the lathe so that the solution covers the whole surface of the deposited soot layer and impregnation of the deposited soot layer occurs.

Abstract: This invention relates to the production of high purity fused silica glass through oxidation or flame hydrolysis of a vaporizable silicon-containing compound. More particularly, this invention is directed to the use of vaporizable, halide-free compounds in said production. In the preferred practice, a polymethylsiloxane comprises said vaporizable, halide-free compound.

Abstract: A fluorine-doped silica soot cylinder (11) is consolidated by containing it within an encapsulation structure (29) within a furance (21). The atmosphere within the encapsulation structure is kept substantially stagnant during the consolidating, and the volume enclosed by the encapsulation structure (29) is only slightly greater than the volume of the soot cylinder (11). A gap (52) between the volume enclosed by the encapsulating structure and the furnace is kept small enough to impede gas flow to a sufficient extent that the atmosphere within the encapsulating structure (29) is substantially stagnant during consolidation. During consolidation, fluorine concentration within the encapsulation structure (29) is uniformly distributed within the soot cylinder (11).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing carbon coated optical fiber includes the steps of removing adherent foreign material from a surface of a bare optical fiber, and forming at least one carbon layer on the surface thereof using a chemical vapor deposition method. The first step is performed by heating and drying the surface of the bare optical fiber in a 80 to 150 degrees C. temperature region to vaporize the adherent foreign material while supplying an inert gas to the surface thereof so as to substitute the inert gas for the vaporized adherent foreign material. The second step is performed by thermally decomposing at least one hydrocarbon compound to obtain a thermal decomposate of the hydrocarbon, and depositing the thermal decomposate on the surface of the bare optical fiber. Also, disclosed is a method for manufacturing carbon coated optical fiber including the steps of cooling a surface of a bare optical fiber to a temperature no higher than 50.degree. C.

Abstract: Low attenuation, low dispersion of optical waveguides are provided by a process initiating with axial deposition of a high velocity core soot stream impinging on a target at a high angle of incidence relative to the axis of rotation of the target. A core cylinder is built up axially by relative movement between the soot stream and target during deposition, the movement being non-constant in order to maintain a substantially constant diameter with a constant deposition rate. A cladding layer is then built up by deposition of soot radially on the core. Subsequent drying and sintering provides a vitreous preform which may be drawn directly into optical waveguides. Alternatively, the sintered product may be drawn down to smaller rods, which then are covered with further deposited soot cladding to a desired final thickness, and after further drying and sintering may be drawn to optical waveguides.

Abstract: A preform for preparation of optical fibers is prepared by inserting a rod of a higher index of refraction fluoride glass into the bore of a hollow cylinder of a lower index of refraction fluoride glass fiber. This preform precursor is processed to collapse the hollow cylinder inwardly to form a composite preform having a high-refractive index core and a low-refractive index casing. The preparing of the glasses and processing to a preform are accomplished in a reactive environment that reacts and removes oxygen and hydrogen containing species from the glass, the reactive environment being, for example, Cl.sub.2, CCl.sub.4, SF.sub.6, BF.sub.3, CF.sub.4, or the decomposition products of a liquefied solid fluorocarbon. The preform is then drawn to an optical fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing carbon-coated optical fiber including the steps of thermally decomposing a halogenated hydrocarbon compound to obtain a thermal decomposate of the halogenated hydrocarbon, and depositing the thermal decomposate on a surface of an uncoated optical fiber to form at least one carbon coating layer on the surface of the fiber. The halogenated hydrocarbon compounds include CClF.sub.3 , CCl.sub.2 F.sub.2 , CCl.sub.3 F, C.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 F and C.sub.2 ClF.sub.5. The deposition is performed at a temperature which is slightly below the thermal decomposition temperature. The method includes an optional step of coating at least one resin layer over a surface of the carbon coating layer.

Abstract: A refractive index profile in a glass article is easily controlled by heating a solid or hollow cylindrical glass soot preform in an atmosphere comprising a fluorine-containing compound under such conditions that a partial pressure of the fluorine-containing compound is changed as the heating proceeds so as to control a fluorine concentration in a radial direction of the optical glass article.

Abstract: A hollow silica bar is formed on a mandrel by an external deposition method using a plasma torch. The mandrel is removed and on the inner face of the bar is deposited a vitreous coating to be used for the subsequent formation of the core of the fibers. Deposition is obtained by means of a plasma column, formed in the bar as a result of an ultra-high frequency coupler able to inject a travelling surface wave into the plasma column.

Abstract: Coatings, which act as barrier layers to inhibit migration of alkali metal ions from a glass surface and/or act as color suppressing underlayers for overlying infra-red reflecting or electrically conducting layers, are deposited by pyrolysis of a gaseous mixture of a silane, an unsaturated hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas other than carbon dioxide which does not react with the silane at room temperature on a hot glass surface at a temperature of 600.degree. C. to 750.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for producing a glass preform for an optical fiber is disclosed. The method comprises forming a soot preform of glass fine particles comprising SiO.sub.2 by flame hydrolysis or solution hydrolysis of a starting glass material and sintering the soot preform in an atmosphere containing at least SiF.sub.4 to obtain a glass preform which is free from an increase in absorption due to impurities and has sufficiently low attenuation of light transmission.

Abstract: A glass preform for use in the fabrication of an optical fiber having little bubbles is produced by a method comprising depositing glass soot on a periphery of a starting glass rod to form a porous glass preform, heating and sintering the porous glass preform in a helium atmosphere to consolidate the porous glass preform and then heating the sintered glass in an atmosphere containing an inert gas except helium having partial pressure of the inert gas of not lower than 0.8 atm. to obtain a transparent glass preform.

Abstract: An optical transmission fiber comprising (1) a core of high refractive index composed of SiO.sub.2 -based glass containing at least one of GeO.sub.2, As.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sb.sub.2 O.sub.5, SnO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, PbO and Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, (2) a clad of low refractive index composed of SiO.sub.2 -based glass containing at least one of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, F, F/B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and F/P.sub.2 O.sub.5, and (3) an outermost jacket layer composed of SiO.sub.2 and/or SiO.sub.2 -based glass containing at least one of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2 and HfO.sub.2.

Abstract: In one manufacture of a preform rod from which optical fiber is drawn, chemical materials are moved into a rotating preform tube to which is applied a moving zone of heat. Following a deposition mode, the tube is collapsed to provide the preform rod. Provisions must be made to supply the deposition materials from a rotating supply conduit into the rotating preform tube without leakage and without the ingress of contaminants while an end portion of the tube is gripped securely. This is accomplished by providing non-metallic ferrules about an end portion of the preform tube which are caused to be clamped against the end portion of the preform tube in sealing and gripping engagement therewith.

Abstract: A fluorine-doped silica soot cylinder (11) is consolidated by containing it within an encapsulation structure (29) within a furnace (21). The atmosphere within the encapsulation structure is kept substantially stagnant during the consolidating, and the volume enclosed by the encapsulation structure (29) is only slightly greater than the volume of the soot cylinder (11). A gap (52) between the volume enclosed by the encapsulating structure and the furnace is kept small enough to impede gas flow to a sufficient extent that the atmosphere within the encapsulating structure (29) is substantially stagnant during consolidation. During consolidation, fluorine concentration within the encapsulation structure (29) is uniformly distributed within the soot cylinder (11).

Abstract: In the P.C.V.D. process, in principal the quartz tube need not be rotated during the deposition of the glass layers. However, it has been found in practice that an improvement in the quality of the glass fibers can be obtained if the quartz tube is rotated regularly over an angle of 360.degree./n. n is preferably equal to an integer from 2 to 12.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, the functions of two TV cameras in the prior art for monitoring polymer coating concentricity and/or carbon coating thickness are accomplished by a single TV camera (48). Rather than being projected onto an opaque dispersive screen, the forward-scattered mode pattern of each of the orthogonal beams (57,58) is transmitted through a translucent screen (52,53) and reflected to an image combining device (67) which transmits both patterns to the single TV camera (48). The two beams are slightly vertically displaced to establish displaced images (72,73) of the two patterns. This allows the two patterns to be viewed simultaneously and distinguished by the TV camera. Modified electronics (FIG. 10) provide for alternate TV scanning of the two images so that a computer (22) can monitor and correct concentricity and/or carbon coating thickness in real time during fiber production.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a lens in which the lens composition is controlled by dynamic shaping and shadowing. A lens material is vaporized and directed to a substrate through an orifice which is rotating relative to the substrate about the lens axis and which has a non-uniform radial distribution. The lens material is condensed on the substrate to form a lens having a radially non-uniform but axially symmetrical distribution. Thereafter, the original orifice may be replaced by a complimentary orifice and another lens material vaporized and directed to the substrate through the replacement orifice which is also rotating relative to the substrate about the lens axis and which also has a non-uniform radial distribution. This second lens material condenses on the first condensed lens material to form a compound lens.

Abstract: A mist is formed by an ultrasonic generator (5) from a liquid solution containing a dopant, and the mist is inserted into the tube blank to be doped (4) by means of a flexible pipe (2) in order to deposit microdrops on the inside surface of said tube blank. The flexible pipe is withdrawn progressively so that deposition takes place along the entire length of the tube blank. The deposit is dried and a new layer of glass is deposited thereon. The dopant from the deposit is heat diffused into the glass of the tube blank and of the new layer of glass. The invention is particularly applicable to fabricaitng rare-earth-doped silica preforms for the purpose of drawing optical fibers that can be used to constitute lasers or sensors.

Abstract: A laser (20) directs a laser beam at an optical fiber (12) and the resulting forward-scattered light is detected by a detector (21). The energy of the foward-scattered laser light is monotonically inversely proportional to the thickness of a carbon coating on the optical fiber. A computer (22) generates an electrical signal for controlling carbon coating thickness by driving a valve (24) to control the flow of acetylene from a source (14) used to coat the optical fiber in a coating chamber (13).

Abstract: The guiding layers of optical waveguides are formed of arsenosilicate glass (ASG). By varying the arsenic content from 2 to 13 mole percent it is possible to vary the refractive index in the range 1.45 to 1.53. Pure silica or less heavily doped ASG can be used for the cladding layers. The ASG is preferably formed as the result of a heterogeneous reaction between silane and oxygen in the presence of arsine. Such a reaction can be carried out at temperatures down to 390.degree. C., allowing the ASG to be used on substrates of III-V compounds.