MULTI-CORE OPTICAL FIBER RIBBONS AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME

Multi-core optical fiber ribbons and methods for making multi-core optical fiber ribbons are described herein. In one embodiment, a multi-core optical fiber ribbon includes at least two core members formed from silica-based glass and oriented in parallel with one another in a single plane. Adjacent core members have a center-to-center spacing 15 microns and a cross-talk between adjacent core members is −25 dB. In this embodiment each core member is single-moded with an index of refraction nc, and a core diameter dc. In an alternative embodiment, each core member is multi-moded and the center-to-center spacing between adjacent core members is 25 microns. A single cladding layer is formed from silica-based glass and surrounds and is in direct contact with the core members. The single cladding layer is substantially rectangular in cross section with a thickness 400 microns and an index of refraction nc1 nc.