Method of making optical fiber devices and devices thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a method of making optical fiber devices. The method includes providing an ultrashort subpicosecond laser pulse duration pulse laser for producing a laser output with a wavelength &lgr;, providing a laser output focussing lens having an air working distance ≧3 mm and a ≦1 NA numerical aperture for focussing said laser output, providing a controllable positioning translation stage for receiving an optical fiber device oxide bulk glass body, providing an optical fiber device oxide bulk glass body having a transparency at &lgr; of at least 90%/cm, positioning said oxide bulk glass body with said stage wherein said glass body is received by said stage, focussing said laser output through said laser output focussing lens to produce a subpicosecond laser pulse duration focus proximate the oxide bulk glass body and translating the oxide bulk glass body relative to said subpicosecond laser pulse duration focus wherein said focus traces a hole precursor track pattern through the oxide bulk glass body, acid etching the oxide bulk glass body in an agitated heated acid bath wherein the focussed traced hole precursor track pattern is etched into an optical fiber receiving hole, cleansing the acid etched oxide bulk glass body with the etched optical fiber receiving hole, and inserting an optical fiber into the optical fiber receiving hole to provide a hole contained optical fiber.