A homogeneous heating technique in preform manufacturing

A new heating technique in preform manufacturing, which enables a faster collapse and a larger preform size, has been developed. On an ordinary MCVD preform station, the torch has been replaced by a microwave (dielectric) heater. With this equipment both deposition and collapse of thick-walled tubes have been performed. Preforms, of single-mode design and with an outer diameter of 35 mm, have been fabricated. This preform size corresponds to 40 km of fiber per half meter preform.