We demonstrate a method for rapid prototyping of optical fibers. Silica-based glass rods were 3D printed using laser powder deposition. Different doping of the 3D printed rods is evaluated, including alumina, titania, and erbium-doped glass. The rods were subsequently used as the core material in preforms with optical fibers drawn using a laser-based draw tower. A transmission loss of 3.2 dB/m was found for a fiber with 1 wt% titania doped core and pure silica cladding. Using this fabrication method, prototyping from powder to optical fiber could be achieved within a few hours.

An experimental, laboratory-scale optical fiber drawing tower based on CO laser heating has been developed and used to fabricate speciality optical fiber. The CO laser was utilized in a symmetric four beam heating system. The localized and responsive heating time of the laser-based furnace was beneficial for manufacturing crystalline core fibers, specifically, silicon core optical fibers. Moreover, the specific absorption properties of the CO laser radiation in silica have been evaluated with the aid of finite element modeling. In comparison to the more traditional C O 2 laser, CO lasers were found to improve temperature uniformity and heating times while minimizing surface evaporation.

Ultralow nonlinearity hollow-core negative curvature fibre is used in a modelocked Ytterbium fibre laser to prevent the onset of pulse breakup at low repetition-rates. Identical pulse peak-power limit at 37MHz and 11MHz is experimentally demonstrated.

Here, we present an innovative preform manufacturing technique for specialty optical fibers based on a carbon monoxide laser heating a rotating preform. The setup performance is evaluated with the aid of finite element modeling. The fabrication process is described in detail using silicon core preforms as a benchmark. The hybrid material nature of such a preform is addressed, together with the relevant characteristics, such as the difference in thermal conductivity and thermal expansion. Silicon core preforms with a wide range of core sizes were manufactured, proving the viability of this system for the development of specialty optical fibers based on novel materials.

Using a transversely focused laser beam the optical fiber itself can function as a partially reflecting concentric cavity interferometer. By monitoring of the back- scattered interference signal temperature measurements approaching the glass softening point is demonstrated.