Patent ID: 9645313
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: B23K,B24B,C03C,G02B

Claim:
1. A method of processing an optical fiber having a coating formed on a glass waveguide that includes an end face having a diameter, comprising: supporting the optical fiber in a ferrule so that a bare end section of the optical fiber that defines the end face protrudes from an end of the ferrule; polishing the end face with a polishing pad so that the end face protrudes from the end of the ferrule by a protrusion distance DP; and irradiating the end face of the bare end section with light from a quantum cascade laser (QCL) to further polish the end face; wherein the light has a wavelength in the range from 5.5 microns to 10.6 microns, wherein the light forms a focus spot substantially at the end face having a diameter that is 10% to 110% of the diameter of the end face, and wherein the light has an average power in the range from 50 mW to 600 mW.