Fused silica exhibits attractive thermophysical properties for CO2 laser processing and the micromachining of optical fibers can benefit from this peculiar laser-matter interaction. Applications like laser cleaving of specialty optical fibers and laser end shaping of single mode and multimode fibers are addressed. The CO2 laser processing of an optical fiber device for the measurement of the refractive index of liquids is also considered. Emphasis is put on sub-spot size micromachined features in fibers.

Topics
Optical fibers, Laser materials processing, Glass, Materials properties
1.
Xiao
,
Y.M.
 &
Bass
,
M.
 (
1983
)
Thermal stress limitations to laser fire polishing of glasses
,
Applied Optics
22
,
2933
–
2936
.
https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.22.002933
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
PubMed
 
2.
Allcock
,
G.
,
Dyer
,
P.E.
,
Elliner
,
G.
 &
Snelling
,
H.V.
 (
1995
)
Experimental observations and analysis of CO2 laser-induced microcracking of glass, Journal of Applied Physics
78
,
7295
–
7303
.
Google Scholar
 
3.
Markillie
,
G.A.J.
,
Baker
,
H.J.
,
Villarreal
,
F.J.
 &
Hall
,
D.R.
 (
2002
)
Effect of vaporization and melt ejection on laser machining of silica glass micro-optical components
,
Applied Optics
41
,
5660
–
5667
.
https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.41.005660
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
PubMed
 
4.
MacLachlan
,
A.D.
 &
Meyer
,
F.P.
 (
1987
)
Temperature dependence of the extinction coefficient of fused silica for CO2 laser wavelengths
,
Applied Optics
26
,
1728
–
1731
.
https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.26.001728
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
PubMed
 
5.
Nash
,
D.
 (
2004
)
CO2 technology continues to evolve
,
Photonics Spectra
38
, No.
3
,
93
–
94
.
Google Scholar
 
6.
Hatcher
,
M.
 (
2003
)
Cutting machine generates ideal fibre shapes for beam delivery
,
Opto & Laser Europe
104
,
9
.
Google Scholar
 
7.
Lee
,
S.
 &
Foster-Turner
,
G.
 (
2002
)
21st century fiber cleaving
,
Fiberoptic Product News
17
, No.
5
,
24
–
26
.
Google Scholar
 
8.
Vergeest
,
H.J.
 (
2001
)
Process for cutting an optical fiber
, United States Patent US 6,246,026 B1.
9.
Greenaway
,
M.W.
,
Proud
,
W.G.
,
Field
,
J.E.
,
Goveas
,
S.G.
 &
Drake
,
R.C.
 (
2001
)
The effect of surface finish on the high power transmission characteristics of fused-silica optical fibres, in Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 2000
,
Proceedings of SPIE
4347
,
599
–
607
.
Google Scholar
 
10.
Yeh
,
S.-M.
,
Lu
,
Y.-K.
,
Huang
,
S.-Y.
,
Lin
,
H.-H.
,
Hsieh
,
C.-H.
 &
Cheng
,
W.-H.
 (
2004
)
A novel scheme of lensed fiber employing a quadrangular-pyramid-shaped fiber endface for coupling between high-power laser diodes and single-mode fibers
,
Journal of Lightwave Technology
22
,
1374
–
1379
.
https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2004.825343
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
11.
Cournoyer
,
A.
 &
Levesque
,
M.
 (
2003
)
Prismatic reflection optical waveguide device
,
United States Patent pending
.
Google Scholar
 
12.
Noiseux
,
I.
,
Long
,
W.
,
Cournoyer
,
A.
 &
Vernon
,
M.
 (
2004
)
Simple fiber optic based sensors for process monitoring: an application in wine quality control monitoring
,
Applied Spectroscopy
58
(to be published).
https://doi.org/10.1366/0003702041655476
Google Scholar
 
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2004 Laser Institute of America.
2004
Laser Institute of America
You do not currently have access to this content.