A method of preparing an optical preform, comprises the steps of: positioning an optical preform comprising silica within a cavity of a furnace; passing an etchant gas into the furnace and at least one of through an open channel defined in the optical preform and around the optical preform; and passing a neutralizing gas into the cavity of the furnace, the neutralizing gas configured to neutralize the etchant gas.

The present invention relates to an optical fiber device for removing cladding light, an apparatus and a method for etching the same. The optical fiber device comprises: a first optical fiber section through an N.sup.th optical fiber section arranged in sequence along a light travelling direction; and a first tapered coupling section coupling a K.sup.th optical fiber section and a (K+1).sup.th optical fiber section, where the K.sup.th optical fiber section is any one of the first optical fiber section through the N.sup.th optical fiber section and the (K+1).sup.th optical fiber section is any one of the first optical fiber section through the N.sup.th optical fiber section adjacent to the K.sup.th optical fiber section, wherein the K.sup.th optical fiber section comprises: at least one first subsection and at least one second subsection alternately arranged along the light travelling direction, each of the at least one first subsection having a diameter D.sub.2K−1 and a length L.sub.2K−1; and each of the at least one second subsection having a diameter D.sub.2K and a length L.sub.2K; and a second tapered coupling section coupling the first subsection and the second subsection adjacent to the first subsection, wherein the diameter D.sub.2K−1 and the length L.sub.2K−1 of the first subsection and the diameter D.sub.2K and the length L.sub.2K of the second subsection of the K.sup.th optical fiber section and a diameter D.sub.2K+1 and a length L.sub.2K+1 of the first subsection and a diameter D.sub.2K+2 and a length L.sub.2K+2 of the second subsection of the (K+1).sup.th optical fiber section satisfy D.sub.2K−1>D.sub.2K, D.sub.2K+1>D.sub.2K+2, L.sub.2K−1>L.sub.2K+1, L.sub.2K>L.sub.2K+2 and D.sub.2K−1=D.sub.2K+1, and satisfy D.sub.2K>D.sub.2K+2 for odd K and D.sub.2K<D.sub.2K+2 for even K (where N is a natural number, and K is any natural number satisfying 1≤K≤N−1).

The present invention relates to an optical fiber device for removing cladding light, an apparatus and a method for etching the same. The optical fiber device comprises: a first optical fiber section through an N.sup.th optical fiber section arranged in sequence along a light travelling direction; and a first tapered coupling section coupling a K.sup.th optical fiber section and a (K+1).sup.th optical fiber section, where the K.sup.th optical fiber section is any one of the first optical fiber section through the N.sup.th optical fiber section and the (K+1).sup.th optical fiber section is any one of the first optical fiber section through the N.sup.th optical fiber section adjacent to the K.sup.th optical fiber section, wherein the K.sup.th optical fiber section comprises: at least one first subsection and at least one second subsection alternately arranged along the light travelling direction, each of the at least one first subsection having a diameter D.sub.2K−1 and a length L.sub.2K−1; and each of the at least one second subsection having a diameter D.sub.2K and a length L.sub.2K; and a second tapered coupling section coupling the first subsection and the second subsection adjacent to the first subsection, wherein the diameter D.sub.2K−1 and the length L.sub.2K−1 of the first subsection and the diameter D.sub.2K and the length L.sub.2K of the second subsection of the K.sup.th optical fiber section and a diameter D.sub.2K+1 and a length L.sub.2K+1 of the first subsection and a diameter D.sub.2K+2 and a length L.sub.2K+2 of the second subsection of the (K+1).sup.th optical fiber section satisfy D.sub.2K−1>D.sub.2K, D.sub.2K+1>D.sub.2K+2, L.sub.2K−1>L.sub.2K+1, L.sub.2K>L.sub.2K+2 and D.sub.2K−1=D.sub.2K+1, and satisfy D.sub.2K>D.sub.2K+2 for odd K and D.sub.2K<D.sub.2K+2 for even K (where N is a natural number, and K is any natural number satisfying 1≤K≤N−1).

A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system includes a motion actuator having longitudinal side members, an internal orifice, a first support region, a central region, and a second support region. The fiber optic element also includes a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice and having a first fiber joint as well as a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice. The second fiber optic cable has a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint, a second coupling region, a light delivery region, and a light emission tip. The light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.

A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system includes a motion actuator having longitudinal side members, an internal orifice, a first support region, a central region, and a second support region. The fiber optic element also includes a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice and having a first fiber joint as well as a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice. The second fiber optic cable has a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint, a second coupling region, a light delivery region, and a light emission tip. The light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.

A manufacturing method of an optical fiber preform used to produce an optical fiber includes: etching a surface of a core preform that forms a core of the optical fiber with a plasma flame in a chamber; obtaining a porous preform by depositing glass particles on an etched surface of the core preform to form an outside vapor-deposited layer that forms a cladding of the optical fiber in a state where the core preform is put into the chamber; and heating and sintering the porous preform. When obtaining the porous preform, the outside vapor-deposited layer is formed by repeatedly performing the deposition of the glass particles multiple times through supply of source material gas. In a first deposition among the multiple times of deposition of the glass particles, a flow rate of the source material gas is less than or equal to 50% of a stable value.

A manufacturing method of an optical fiber preform used to produce an optical fiber includes: etching a surface of a core preform that forms a core of the optical fiber with a plasma flame in a chamber; obtaining a porous preform by depositing glass particles on an etched surface of the core preform to form an outside vapor-deposited layer that forms a cladding of the optical fiber in a state where the core preform is put into the chamber; and heating and sintering the porous preform. When obtaining the porous preform, the outside vapor-deposited layer is formed by repeatedly performing the deposition of the glass particles multiple times through supply of source material gas. In a first deposition among the multiple times of deposition of the glass particles, a flow rate of the source material gas is less than or equal to 50% of a stable value.

A method for manufacturing a capillary usable as part of a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. The method includes obtaining a capillary having capillary wall including a first wall thickness; and chemically etching the capillary wall to reduce the wall thickness of the capillary wall. During performance of the etching, a control parameter is locally varied along the length of the capillary, the control parameter relating to reactivity of an etchant used in the etching, so as to control the etched wall thickness of the capillary wall along the capillary length. Also disclosed is a capillary manufactured by such a method and various devices including such a capillary.

A method for creating a random anti-reflective surface structure on an optical fiber including a holder configured to hold the optical fiber comprising a groove and a fiber connector, an adhesive material to hold the optical fiber in the holder and fill any gap between the optical fiber and the holder, a glass to cover the adhesive material and the optical fiber, and a reactive ion etch device. The reactive ion etch device comprises a plasma and is configured to expose an end face of the optical fiber to the plasma. The plasma is configured to etch a random anti-reflective surface structure on the end face of the optical fiber.

A method for creating a random anti-reflective surface structure on an optical fiber including a holder configured to hold the optical fiber comprising a groove and a fiber connector, an adhesive material to hold the optical fiber in the holder and fill any gap between the optical fiber and the holder, a glass to cover the adhesive material and the optical fiber, and a reactive ion etch device. The reactive ion etch device comprises a plasma and is configured to expose an end face of the optical fiber to the plasma. The plasma is configured to etch a random anti-reflective surface structure on the end face of the optical fiber.