Michael R Lapointe

US Patent:

7848606, Dec 7, 2010

Filed:

Mar 13, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/047805

Inventors:

Michael R. LaPointe - Harvest AL, US
Dennis S. Tucker - Huntsville AL, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

G02B 6/00
G02B 6/02
C03B 25/00
C03B 37/10
C03B 37/02

US Classification:

385123, 385142, 65 311, 65434

Abstract:

A method is provided for eliminating crystals in non-oxide optical fiber preforms as well as optical fibers drawn therefrom. The optical-fiber-drawing axis of the preform is aligned with the force of gravity. A magnetic field is applied to the preform as it is heated to at least a melting temperature thereof. The magnetic field is applied in a direction that is parallel to the preform's optical-fiber-drawing axis. The preform is then cooled to a temperature that is less than a glass transition temperature of the preform while the preform is maintained in the magnetic field. When the processed preform is to have an optical fiber drawn therefrom, the preform's optical-fiber-drawing axis is again aligned with the force of gravity and a magnetic field is again applied along the axis as the optical fiber is drawn from the preform.