Molten Core Flux Formation Method and Fibers Formed Therefrom

Technical Summary:

The molten core flux method builds upon the molten core method. The molten core method approach creates semiconductor optical fibers by melting the semiconductor at a temperature where the glass cladding softens and draws to fiber. The improved process adds a secondary phase to the semiconductor precursor that the two phases form a homogenous solution about the liquidus. The liquidus temperature is reduced relative to the melting point of either of the pure compositions. The homogenous liquid has a low enough vapor pressure to prevent the explosion of the semiconductor/glass preform prior to the drawing of the fiber. Therefore, the low vapor pressure allows the glass-clad fiber to be drawn. The molten core flux method has demonstrated promising initial results with both GaAs and ZnSe. GaAs semiconductor optical fiber was achieved as the dominant core phase with single secondary phase that is relatively low melting.