Draka Comteq B.v.

David Boivin

Pierre Sillard

Denis Molin

Louis-Anne De Montmorillon

Pascale Nouchi

Marianne Bigot-Astruc

Simon Richard

Bob J Overton

Yves Lumineau

Alain Pastouret

Ekaterina Burov

Cedric Gonnet

Ivo Flammer

Emmanuel Petitfrere

Christine Collet

Olivier Cavani

Cédric Gonnet

The present invention embraces an amplifying optical fiber having a central core adapted to convey and amplify an optical signal and a cladding that surrounds the central core to confine the optical signal conveyed in the central core. The central core is formed of a core matrix in which nanoparticles are present. The nanoparticles themselves include a nanoparticle matrix and rare-earth-dopant elements. The core matrix may also include one or more additional dopants (i.e., in addition to nanoparticles). The amplifying optical fiber possesses a small numerical aperture and is suitable for use in high-pump-power applications without a degraded gain shape.

Rare-earth-doped optical fiber having small numerical aperture

A single-mode optical fiber includes a central core, an intermediate cladding, a depressed trench, and an external optical cladding. The central core has a radius rand a positive refractive index difference &#x394;nwith the optical cladding. The intermediate cladding has a radius rand a refractive index difference &#x394;nwith the optical cladding, wherein &#x394;nis less than &#x394;n. The depressed trench has a radius rand a negative index difference &#x394;nwith the optical cladding. At a wavelength of 1310 nanometers, the optical fiber has a mode field diameter (MFD) between 8.6 microns and 9.5 microns and, at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, the optical fiber has bending losses less than about 0.25&#xd7;10dB/turn for a radius of curvature of 15 millimeters. At a wavelength of 1260 nanometers, attenuation of the LP11 mode to 19.3 dB is achieved over less than 90 meters of fiber.

Single-mode optical fiber having reduced bending losses

Disclosed is an improved, single-mode optical fiber possessing a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses. The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The secondary coating provides improved ribbon characteristics for structures that are robust, yet easily entered (i.e., separated and stripped). The optional dual coating is specifically balanced for superior heat stripping in fiber ribbons, with virtually no residue left behind on the glass. This facilitates fast splicing and terminations. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that offer significant advantages for deployment in most, if not all, fiber-to-the-premises (FTTx) systems.

Microbend-resistant optical fiber

Disclosed is an amplifying optical fiber having a central core and an optical cladding surrounding the central core. The central core is based on a silica matrix that includes nanoparticles, which are composed of a matrix material that includes doping ions of at least one rare earth element. The amplifying optical fiber can be employed, for example, in an optical amplifier and an optical laser.

Amplifying optical fiber and method of manufacturing

A single-mode optical fiber includes a central core, an intermediate cladding, a depressed trench, and an external optical cladding. The central core has a radius rand a positive refractive index difference &#x394;nwith the optical cladding. The intermediate cladding has a radius rand a positive refractive index difference &#x394;nwith the optical cladding, wherein &#x394;nis less than &#x394;n. The depressed trench has a radius rand a negative index difference &#x394;nwith the optical cladding. At a wavelength of 1310 nanometers, the optical fiber has a mode field diameter (MFD) between 8.6 microns and 9.5 microns and, at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, the optical fiber has bending losses less than about 0.25&#xd7;10dB/turn for a radius of curvature of 15 millimeters. At a wavelength of 1260 nanometers, attenuation of the LP11 mode to 19.3 dB is achieved over less than 90 meters of fiber.

The present invention embraces a single-mode optical fiber that, at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, has bending losses of 0.15 dB/turn or less for a radius of curvature of 5 millimeters.

Bend-insensitive single-mode optical fiber

A single-mode optical fiber includes a central core, an intermediate cladding, a depressed trench, and an external optical cladding. The central core has a radius rand a positive refractive index difference &#x394;nwith the optical cladding. The intermediate cladding has a radius rand a refractive index difference &#x394;nwith the optical cladding, wherein &#x394;nis less than the central core's refractive index difference &#x394;n. The depressed trench has a radius rand a negative index difference &#x394;nwith the optical cladding. The optical fiber has a nominal mode field diameter (MFD) between 8.6 microns and 9.5 microns at a wavelength of 1310 nanometers, and at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, the optical fiber has bending losses less than 0.15 dB/turn for a radius of curvature of 5 millimeters and cable cut-off wavelengths of less than or equal to 1260 nanometers.

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Longjumeau, France

David Boivin