Isotopically altered optical fiber
US6870999B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 22, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 25, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/02271
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An isotopically-altered, silica based optical fiber is provided having lower losses, broader bandwidth, and broader Raman gain spectrum characteristics than conventional silica-based fiber. A heavier, less naturally abundant isotope of silicon or oxygen is substituted for a lighter, more naturally abundant isotope to shift the infrared absorption to a slightly longer wavelength. In one embodiment, oxygen-18 is substituted for the much more naturally abundant oxygen-16 at least in the core region of the fiber. The resulting isotopically-altered fiber has a minimum loss of 0.044 dB/km less than conventional fiber, and a bandwidth that is 17 percent broader for a loss range between 0.044-0.034 dB/km. The fiber may be easily manufactured with conventional fiber manufacturing equipment by way of a plasma chemical vapor deposition technique. When a 50 percent substitution of oxygen -18 for oxygen-16 is made in the core region of the fiber, the Raman gain spectrum is substantially broadened.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.