Patent ID: 6580860
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: C03B,G02B

Abstract:
A method for making a highly birefringent optical fiber, comprising:(a) providing a first preform comprising a substantially circular core and a substantially circular cladding adjacent the core, and a support region adjacent the cladding region; (b) grinding an outer surface of the support region of the first preform to form a second preform with a non-circular cross section; (c) circularizing at least part of the second preform to provide a third preform with a substantially circular cross section, wherein the third preform comprises a core with a substantially circular cross section, and a cladding adjacent the core, wherein the cladding has a substantially elliptical cross section; (d) modifying an outer surface of the third preform to create a fourth preform with a substantially non-circular cross section; and (e) drawing the fourth preform to provide an optical fiber with the non-circular cross section of the fourth preform.