Low Temperature Diffusion Study of Molten Core Method

PAC

This study describe the fabrication of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) core optical fibers due its intrinsic material nonlinearities and future potential for nonlinear fiber optical devices. In particular, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cane size on cladding diffusion and on core size of the final fiber. It seemed that the size of the core in the final fiber is not largely dependent on the size of the cane, but instead it largely depends on the ability of Bi2O3 to melt easily when it is first being drawn from preform to cane. However, the core sizes between each draw were not consistent thus, it is problematic to truly compare the effect of cladding diffusion with the given situation. It is also interesting to note that there might be a correlation between the cane sizes and the mechanical properties of the final fiber. However, it is difficult to make definitive conclusions about these results without further study. This requires further investigation.