An illumination system generating light having at least one wavelength within 200 nm a plurality of nano-sized structures (e.g., voids). The optical fiber coupled to the light source. The light diffusing optical fiber has a core and a cladding. The plurality of nano-sized structures is situated either within said core or at a core-cladding boundary. The optical fiber also includes an outer surface. The optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light via the nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface, to form a light-source fiber portion having a length that emits substantially uniform radiation over its length, said fiber having a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km for the wavelength(s) within 200 nm to 2000 nm range.

An illumination system generating light having at least one wavelength within 200 nm a plurality of nano-sized structures (e.g., voids). The optical fiber coupled to the light source. The light diffusing optical fiber has a core and a cladding. The plurality of nano-sized structures is situated either within said core or at a core-cladding boundary. The optical fiber also includes an outer surface. The optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light via the nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface, to form a light-source fiber portion having a length that emits substantially uniform radiation over its length, said fiber having a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km for the wavelength(s) within 200 nm to 2000 nm range.

A method of marking an optical fiber that includes directing a laser beam onto a first colored layer of an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a core and a cladding surrounding the core, the first colored layer surrounds the cladding, and the laser beam modifies the first colored layer to form one or more laser-modified regions along an outer surface of the first colored layer.

An optical fiber ribbon comprises a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel and a connecting resin layer containing a ribbon resin for coating and connecting the plurality of optical fibers, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers has an outer diameter of 220 .Math.m or less; each of the plurality of optical fibers includes a glass fiber, a primary resin layer, and a colored secondary resin layer; the colored secondary resin layer contains a cured product of a resin composition containing 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide; and a content of phosphorus in the colored secondary resin layer is 0.03 mass% or more and 0.30 mass% or less, and an amount of a phosphorus-tin complex at the surface of the colored secondary resin layer is 300 ppm or more and 7000 ppm or less.

An optical fiber ribbon comprises a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel and a connecting resin layer containing a ribbon resin for coating and connecting the plurality of optical fibers, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers has an outer diameter of 220 .Math.m or less; each of the plurality of optical fibers includes a glass fiber, a primary resin layer, and a colored secondary resin layer; the colored secondary resin layer contains a cured product of a resin composition containing 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide; and a content of phosphorus in the colored secondary resin layer is 0.03 mass% or more and 0.30 mass% or less, and an amount of a phosphorus-tin complex at the surface of the colored secondary resin layer is 300 ppm or more and 7000 ppm or less.

An optical fiber comprises a glass fiber having a core and a cladding with which the core is covered, and a coating resin layer with which the glass fiber is covered, the coating resin layer having a colored layer of a thickness of 10 μm or more, wherein a change rate of a yellow index of the coating resin layer after aging due to temperature and humidity under an environment of 85° C. and 85% RH for 30 days is 5 or less per day.

An optical fiber ribbon comprises a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel and a connecting resin layer containing a ribbon resin for coating and connecting the plurality of optical fibers, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers has an outer diameter of 220 μm or less; each of the plurality of optical fibers includes a glass fiber, a primary resin layer, and a colored secondary resin layer; the colored secondary resin layer contains a cured product of a resin composition containing 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide; and a content of phosphorus in the colored secondary resin layer is 0.03 mass % or more and 0.30 mass % or less, and an amount of a phosphorus-tin complex at the surface of the colored secondary resin layer is 300 ppm or more and 7000 ppm or less.

An optical fiber ribbon comprises a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel and a connecting resin layer containing a ribbon resin for coating and connecting the plurality of optical fibers, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers has an outer diameter of 220 μm or less; each of the plurality of optical fibers includes a glass fiber, a primary resin layer, and a colored secondary resin layer; the colored secondary resin layer contains a cured product of a resin composition containing 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide; and a content of phosphorus in the colored secondary resin layer is 0.03 mass % or more and 0.30 mass % or less, and an amount of a phosphorus-tin complex at the surface of the colored secondary resin layer is 300 ppm or more and 7000 ppm or less.

The present invention provides a magnetic glass fibre component comprising at least one glass fibre component coated and/or impregnated with an iron ore containing resin.

A method of marking an optical fiber includes forming an ink stream, moving an optical fiber over a fiber path adjacent the ink stream, and intermittently deflecting the ink stream with a gas jet so that the optical fiber at least partially enters the deflected ink stream so that the ink from the deflected ink stream forms spaced apart marks on the optical fiber outer surface. An optical fiber marking apparatus is also disclosed that includes payout and take modules that move the optical fiber over the fiber path, a marking unit configured to form an ink stream adjacent the fiber path, and an ink stream deflection device that causes the ink stream to deflect and overlap the fiber path so that ink from the ink stream forms spaced apart marks on the outer surface of the optical fiber.