SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODIFYING SELECTED PORTION OF OPTICAL FIBER MICROSTRUCTURE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide optical fiber devices and methods, and in particular for improved systems and methods for modifying a selected portion of an optical fiber microstructure. SOLUTION: An etchant gas is caused to stream the microstructure in a selected portion of the fiber. Heat is then applied to the selected fiber portion, causing at least some of the microstructure to be etched away. In the other technique, an optical device is coupled to a modified air-clad optical fiber. An air-clad optical fiber is provided having a core, an inner cladding region surrounding the core, an air-clad region surrounding the inner cladding region, and an outer region surrounding the air-clad region. A lead end of the air-clad optical fiber is prepared for splicing by removing the air-clad region and all fiber regions outside of the air-clad region, so as to expose an inner fiber region. The prepared lead end of the air-clad optical fiber is then spliced to a lead end of the optical device. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT