Patent ID: 6519975
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: C03B,C03C,G02B,H01S,Y02P

Abstract:
A method of making an optical fiber waveguide comprising the steps of:a) forming an elongated glass body having a first end and a second end, the elongated glass body comprising a central member consisting of a first transparent glass consisting essentially of 20-40 cation percent SiO2, 10-20 cation percent AlO5, 0-5 cation percent CdS, 0-3 cation percent CdCl2, 0-34 cation percent CdO, 0-34 cation percent CdF2, wherein the total amount of CdF2, CdS, CdCl2 and CdO is between 19 cation percent and 34 cation percent, 19-23 cation percent PbF2, at least one rare earth fluoride selected from the group consisting of 3-7 cation percent YF3, cation percent GdF3, and 4-15 cation percent LuF3, wherein the total amount of YF3, GdF3 and LuF3 is between 3 cation percent and 15 cation percent, at least one rare earth ion selected from the group consisting of Pr3+ and Dy3+, wherein the total amount of Pr3+ and Dy3+ is between about 300 ppmw and about 2000 ppmw, 0-17 cation percent total of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of 0-7 cation percent BO1.5, 0-12 cation percent GeO2, 0-7 cation percent PO2.5, 0-3 cation percent TiO2, 0-2 cation percent Nb2O5, 0-7 cation percent GaF3, 0-7 cation percent HfF4, 0-7 cation percent InF3, 0-15 cation percent BiF3, and 0-1 cation percent LaF3, and about 500 ppmw to about 2000 ppmw Ag+; and a second transparent glass covering the surface of the central member, the second transparent glass consisting essentially of SiO2 in an amount of 25-35 wt % on an oxide basis, Al2O3 in an amount of 3-5 wt % on an oxide basis, CdF2 in an amount of 12-16 wt % on an oxide basis, PbF2 in an amount of 40-50 wt % on an oxide basis, ZnF2 in an amount of 4-8 wt % on an oxide basis, and Bi2O3 in an amount of 0-10 wt % on an oxide basis; and b) heating the elongated glass body at a pre-selected temperature for a pre-selected time, thereby transforming the central member into a transparent, optically clear glass-ceramic containing essentially only one crystal phase.