Method for increasing the index of refraction of a glassy materi

Details Method for increasing the index of refraction of a glassy materi Method for increasing the index of refraction of a glassy materi

1994-12-14

1996-03-19

Simmons, David A.

Glass manufacturing

Processes of manufacturing fibers, filaments, or preforms

Process of manufacturing optical fibers, waveguides, or...

65387, 65392, 65424, 65425, 65 301, 65 321, C03B 3200

Patent

active

055000312

ABSTRACT:
In accordance with the invention, the index of refraction of a glassy material is increased by treating the material with hydrogen and applying heat. Specifically, the glass is exposed to hydrogen or deuterium at pressure in the range 14-11,000 p.s.i. and a temperature in the range 21.degree.-150.degree. C. for a time sufficient for the hydrogen to diffuse into the glass. The glass is then subjected to heat in excess of about 500.degree. C., as by application of a flame or infrared radiation. The duration of heating can be less than a second. The result is a substantial and long-lived increase in the normalized refractive index. For example, flame heating of H.sub.2 loaded commercial GeO.sub.2 doped optical fibers (AT&T Accutether single mode fiber) has produced normalized index changes .increment.n
of 4.times.10.sup.-3. This process can be used to make and adjust a variety of optical waveguide devices.

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Lemaire et al. "High Pressure H_d2_u Loading As A Technique For Achieving Ultrahigh UV Potosensitivity And Thermal Sensitivity in GeO_d2_u Doped Optical Fibres" Electronics Lettes vol. 29, No. 13, pp. 1191-1193 (1993).
C. H. Henry, et al. "Glass Waveguides on Silicon for Hybrid Optical Packaging" J. of Lightwave Tech. vol. 7, No. 10, pp. 1530-1539 (1989).

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