Method of fabricating high birefringence fibers

US4529426A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• AT&T Bell Laboratories · US

Inventors

• William Pleibel · Matawan, US
• Jay R. Simpson · Fanwood, US
• Rogers H. Stolen · Rumson, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 22, 1983
• Grant date: Jul 16, 1985
• Expiry date: Jul 22, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C03B2203/30
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a technique for producing polarization-preserving and single polarization optical fibers. As disclosed, high birefringence is introduced into the preform by deforming the fiber preform such that a cladding layer becomes flat and highly conformable, while the core remains hard and substantially round. In particular, a cladding layer with a relatively low melting point is utilized such that when the preform is heated the cladding becomes liquified while the core remains solid. The preform may then be deformed so that the cladding layer is substantially flattened. Standard drawing techniques may then be utilized to form polarization-preserving fibers and single polarization fibers from the preform.