Fiber Splicer Convertible–Mini Preform Fabrication System

Abstract

We downscale a lab-sized preform fabrication system to a benchtop miniature preform, hence a short-length fiber fabrication system. The system, which is a large-diameter fiber splicer convertible, is compact, low cost, fast, and flexible as compared with standard preform fabrication processes. Using the proposed system incorporating with a solution doping technique, we have successfully fabricated several ~ 1-mm-thick, 40 ± 10 mm long thulium-doped silica and germania-silica preforms. The preforms were drawn to 400 μm diameter, submeter length low NA thulium-doped fibers. Encouraging absorption and emission behaviors were obtained. The technique is promising and suitable for rapid specialty optical fiber prototyping.