Core Eccentricity Error of Optical Fiber Fabricated by Hybridized CIP Process

A CIP hybridized process for fabrication of a single-mode optical fiber with a small core eccentricity error has been studied. As a result, a process for fabrication of an optical fiber with a core eccentricity error of less than 0.3μm has been developed. In this study, we also clarified the following. (1) A hybridized soot preform with an outer diameter noncircularity of less than 0.4% was prepared by packing granular silica particles with a high packing density into a rubber mold with a thick wall. (2) A soot preform with a noncircularity of less than 0.06% and an outer diameter fluctuation of less than 0.11mm was made by means of a grinding treatment in which the outer surface of the soot preform was ground around a core rod. (3) A single-mode optical fiber with a core eccentricity error of less than 0.3μm was also fabricated from the soot preform ground above.