Corning Incorporated

Christopher W Wightman

Bruce Warren Reding

Leslie J Button

Jerald B Dotson

Methods for deteting defects, such as, holes or voids, in optical waveguide fibers are provided. The methods employ far-field interference patterns produced by transversely illuminating the fiber with a laser beam. Holes in the fiber produce a characteristic peak in the spatial frequency spectrum of the interference pattern which subdivides into two peaks which migrate in opposite directions as a hole grows in size. Holes also produce a characteristic increase in the total power of the interference pattern, the amount of the increase being a linear function of the size of the hole for holes having a diameter less than about 60% of the diameter of the fiber. The hole detection methods are incorporated in an overall system for controlling the drawing of optical waveguide fibers.

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Corning, NY, United States of America

Christopher W Wightman