Patent ID: 6536240
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
A method for making an optical fiber preform comprising steps of:a) attaching a target rod to a rotatable support; b) depositing with a plasma torch a layer of a first unsintered silica on the target rod, the depositing including rotating the target rod and moving the plasma torch along a length of the target at a first rate; c) repeating said depositing step (b) a predetermined number of times to form a plurality of layers of the first unsintered silica above one another on said length of the target rod; d) sintering said plurality of concentric layers of the first unsintered silica to form a layer of sintered first silica by rotating the target rod and moving the plasma torch along a length of the target rod at a second rate, the second rate being lower than the first rate; e) repeating steps (b)-(d) to form a first intermediate preform having said target rod with a predetermined thickness of said layers of said sintered first silica deposited thereon.