Doped quartz glass components for use in a plasma-assisted manufacturing process contain at least one dopant which is capable of reacting with fluorine to form a fluoride compound, and the fluoride compound has a boiling point higher than that of SiF.sub.4. The doped quartz glass component has high dry-etch resistance and low particle formation, and has uniform etch removal when used in a plasma-assisted manufacturing process. The doped quartz glass has a microhomogeneity defined by (a) a surface roughness with an R.sub.a value of less than 20 nm after the surface has been subjected to a dry-etching procedure as specified in the description, or (b) a dopant distribution with a lateral concentration profile in which maxima of the dopant concentration are at an average distance apart of less than 30 μm.

The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a glass, ceramic or composite material. The method may involve initially forming a plurality of tubes and then performing a coating operation to coat the plurality of tubes with materials containing metal or metalloid elements, including inorganic compounds, organometallic compounds, or coordination complexes to form coated tubes. The method may further include performing at least one of a thermal operation or a thermochemical operation on the coated tubes to form a solid glass, ceramic, or composite structure with dimensions representing at least one of a rod or fiber.

A glass includes a first glass portion and a second glass portion. The first glass portion has a higher ion packing density than the second glass portion (has a composition that forms a glass in which, out of plastic deformation characteristics, plastic flow is dominant). The second glass has a lower ion packing density than the first glass portion (has a composition that forms a glass in which, out of the plastic deformation characteristics, densification is dominant).

Methods for synthesizing fibers having nanoparticles therein are provided, as well as preforms and fibers incorporating nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may include one or more rare earth ions selected based on fluorescence at eye-safer wavelengths, surrounded by a low-phonon energy host. Nanoparticles that are not doped with rare earth ions may also be included as a co-dopant to help increase solubility of nanoparticles doped with rare earth ions in the silica matrix. The nanoparticles may be incorporated into a preform, which is then drawn to form fiber. The fibers may beneficially be incorporated into lasers and amplifiers that operate at eye safer wavelengths. Lasers and amplifiers incorporating the fibers may also beneficially exhibit reduced Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

Laser waveguides, methods and systems for forming a laser waveguide are provided. The waveguide includes an inner cladding layer surrounding a central axis and a glass core surrounding and located outside of the inner cladding layer. The glass core includes a laser-active material. The waveguide includes an outer cladding layer surrounding and located outside of the glass core. The inner cladding, outer cladding and/or core may surround a hollow central channel or bore and may be annular in shape.

A manufacturing method for an optical fiber, includes: drawing, while heating in a heating furnace, a lower end of an optical fiber preform that is to be an optical fiber having a core consisting of silica glass containing a rare earth element compound. The heating furnace has a temperature profile in which a temperature of the heating furnace increases to a maximum temperature T.sub.max and then decreases from an upstream side of the heating furnace toward a downstream side of the heating furnace. The temperature profile has a changing point at which the temperature decreases more steeply on the downstream side from a position where the maximum temperature T.sub.max is reached. At the maximum temperature, a temperature of the silica glass is higher than or equal to a glass transition temperature and the silica glass is in a single phase.

Methods for synthesizing fibers having nanoparticles therein are provided, as well as preforms and fibers incorporating nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may include one or more rare earth ions selected based on fluorescence at eye-safer wavelengths, surrounded by a low-phonon energy host. Nanoparticles that are not doped with rare earth ions may also be included as a co-dopant to help increase solubility of nanoparticles doped with rare earth ions in the silica matrix. The nanoparticles may be incorporated into a preform, which is then drawn to form fiber. The fibers may beneficially be incorporated into lasers and amplifiers that operate at eye safer wavelengths. Lasers and amplifiers incorporating the fibers may also beneficially exhibit reduced Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

A method of capturing soot includes the steps: combusting a first precursor in a burner to produce a soot stream, the soot stream comprising soot and exiting the burner at an outlet; and directing a capture medium to the soot stream, the capture medium contacting the soot in an impact region, the soot having a temperature greater than 50° C. in the impact region.

A method for preparing a glass composite wavelength converter comprising the steps of providing at least one phosphor material, providing a powder of glass components, mixing the phosphor material and the powder of glass components, thereby preparing a first mixture, adding at least one oxidizing agent to the first mixture, mixing the oxidizing agent with the first mixture, thereby preparing a second mixture, applying pressure and current to the second mixture, thereby preparing a glass composite wavelength converter is described. Furthermore, a glass component wavelength converter and a light source are described.

A method for producing a component with portions of a rare earth metal-doped quartz glass, an intermediate product containing voids and consisting of a SiO.sub.2 raw material doped with rare earth metal is introduced into a sinter mold the interior of which is bordered by a carbonaceous mold wall, and is melted therein into the component by gas pressure sintering at a maximum temperature above 1500 C. A shield is arranged between the mold wall and the intermediate product. In order to indicate a modified gas pressure sintering method that ensures the production of rare earth metal-doped quartz glass with reproducible properties, a bulk material of amorphous SiO.sub.2 particles with a layer thickness of at least 2 mm is used as the shield, the softening temperature thereof being at least 20 C. higher than the softening temperature of the doped SiO.sub.2 raw material, and the bulk material being gas-permeable at the beginning of the melting of the intermediate product, and the bulk material sintering during melting into an outer layer that is gas-tight to a pressure gas.