Corning Incorporated

Gregory Gerard Gausman

Dana Craig Bookbinder

Stephan Lvovich Logunov

Adam James Ellison

James Gary Anderson

William Anthony Whedon

Michael Thomas Murtagh

Rostislav Radiyevich Khrapko

Calvin Thomas Coffey

Lisa C Chacon

Sabyasachi Sen

Clinton Damon Osterhout

Disclosed is an optical fiber having a core with an alkali metal oxide dopant in an peak amount greater than about 0.002 wt. % and less than about 0.1 wt. %. The alkali metal oxide concentration varies with a radius of the optical fiber. By appropriately selecting the concentration of alkali metal oxide dopant in the core and the cladding, a low loss optical fiber may be obtained. Also disclosed are several methods of making the optical fiber including the steps of forming an alkali metal oxide-doped rod, and adding additional glass to form a draw perform. Preferably, the draw preform has a final outer dimension (d), wherein an outer dimension (d) of the rod is less than or equal to 0.06 times the final outer dimension (d). In a preferred embodiment, the alkali metal oxide-doped rod is inserted into the centerline hole of a preform to form an assembly.

Optical fiber containing an alkali metal oxide and methods and apparatus for manufacturing same

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, NC, United States of America

Gregory Gerard Gausman