High-strength optical preforms and fibers with thin, high-compression

Abstract

High-strength optical preforms and optical fibers, particularly useful in light-wave communication systems, are fabricated by techniques producing high surface compressive forces in thin outer layers. These result in substantially increased fiber tensile strength, durability, and fiber life. High surface stresses are achieved in three-layer and four-layer preforms and fibers by employing particular combinations of core, cladding, and layer compositions, dopants, coefficients of thermal expansion, and glass transition temperatures. Various suitable manufacturing methods are disclosed using chemical vapor deposition techniques. For example, preforms may be fabricated by external deposition of layers on a drawn core-glass rod, or by internal CVD methods in which layers are sequentially deposited within hollow tubular silica substrates that are then collapsed into solid preforms by known techniques. In the internal deposition methods, preform finishing techniques are also disclosed for removing excess substrate material so as to leave a high-strength compressive layer of substantially pure silica.