A method of controlling the temperature of an optical fiber is provided that includes the steps of: providing an energy transfer member configured to accept or provide thermal energy, the energy transfer member defines an energy transfer surface; passing an optical fiber proximate the energy transfer member such that a gap is defined between the optical fiber and the energy transfer surface; and transferring thermal energy between the optical fiber and the energy transfer member via conduction across the gap.

The present invention, as disclosed and described herein, in one aspect thereof comprises a preform for making a vortex optical fiber includes a glass cylinder formed substantially of silicone dioxide that defines a core portion along a longitudinal axis of the glass cylinder and a cladding portion surrounding the core portion. The glass cylinder further defines a plurality of holes running parallel to the longitudinal axis from a first end of the glass cylinder to a second end of the glass cylinder.

A method of manufacturing a quartz glass fibre includes producing a quartz glass primary preform by modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) in a quartz glass substrate tube and inserting the quartz glass primary preform into a glass jacketing tube. Defect-generating UV radiation is irridiated into the cross-sectional area of the glass jacketing tube while combining the quartz glass primary preform with the glass jacketing tube in the jacketing process to form a cladding layer to a secondary preform. A quartz glass fibre is pulled from the secondary preform.

An optical fibre draw furnace includes a hollow cylindrical structure, one or more heating elements and a sealing felt. The one or more heating elements are situated at periphery of the hollow cylindrical structure. The one or more heating elements are utilized for melting the glass preform. The sealing felt is positioned at a pre-defined distance above the optical fibre draw furnace. The sealing felt includes a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is utilized to hold the glass preform. The first opening allows passing of the glass preform inside the optical fibre draw furnace. The second opening facilitates in input of gas inside the optical fibre draw furnace.

An optical fiber manufacturing method includes: drawing an optical fiber preform to form a bare optical fiber; cooling the bare optical fiber by a non-contact direction changer; adjusting a temperature of the bare optical fiber in a temperature adjusting unit disposed downstream of the non-contact direction changer and upstream of a coating unit; disposing, in the coating unit, an uncured coating layer that comprises a resin precursor on an outer periphery of the bare optical fiber; and curing the uncured coating layer in a curing unit.

An optical fiber manufacturing method includes: drawing an optical fiber preform to form a bare optical fiber; cooling the bare optical fiber; coating an uncured coating layer that includes a resin precursor on an outer periphery of the bare optical fiber; curing the uncured coating layer to form a semi-cured coating layer; further curing the semi-cured coating layer; and cooling the semi-cured coating layer by at least one non-contact direction changer between the curing of the uncured coating layer and the curing of the semi-cured coating layer.

A method of processing an optical fiber includes drawing the optical fiber from an optical fiber preform within a draw furnace, the optical fiber extending from the draw furnace along a process pathway, the optical fiber comprising at least one halogen-doped core; and drawing the optical fiber through at least one slow cooling device positioned downstream from the draw furnace at a draw speed. The at least one slow cooling device exposes the optical fiber to a slow cooling device process temperature greater than or equal to 800° C. and less than or equal to 1600° C. The draw speed is such that the optical fiber has a residence time of at least 0.1 s in the at least one slow cooling device. An optical fiber made by such a process is also disclosed.

A method of processing an optical fiber includes drawing the optical fiber from a heated glass source, reheating the optical fiber, and cooling the optical fiber under vacuum at a cooling rate less than the cooling rate of the optical fiber in air at 25° C. and 1 atm. Cooling the optical fiber under vacuum is conducted after reheating the optical fiber. Cooling the optical fiber under vacuum reduces the rate of heat transfer from the optical fiber, which may enable further relaxation of the glass and reduction in the fictive temperature of the optical fiber. A system for processing an optical fiber includes a furnace containing a fiber preform, a first positioner, a reheating device, and a treatment device downstream of the reheating device, the treatment device operable to cool the optical fiber under vacuum to reduce the rate of heat transfer from the optical fiber.

Methods, apparatuses and systems of manufacturing an optical fiber are disclosed herein. The methods may include heating an optical preform in a draw furnace, drawing an optical fiber from the optical preform, cooling the optical fiber with a slow cooling device, and annealing the optical fiber by passing the optical fiber through an RF plasma heating apparatus.

Optical fiber draw production systems, pressure devices, and methods of fabrication of optical fiber are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of forming an optical fiber includes heating a preform to draw the optical fiber through a draw furnace, and passing the optical fiber through a pressure device while the optical fiber is still forming, wherein a pressure within the pressure device is greater than an atmospheric pressure.