Patent ID: 7793521
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a photonic crystal or photonic band gap optical fiber, comprising: providing a preform that includes a plurality of holes and an outer surface, the holes extending from a first end of the preform to a second end of the preform; forming at least one radially inwardly extending slot within the preform such that the at least one slot intersects at least some of the holes, wherein the at least one slot does not intersect at least one of the holes; establishing a first pressure in the holes intersected by the at least one slot by introducing the first pressure to the at least one slot; establishing a second pressure in the at least one hole not intersected by the at least one slot by introducing the second pressure to an end of the at least one hole not intersected by the at least one slot; and drawing the preform into a fiber while independently controlling the first and second pressures.