A HOLLOW CORE POWER-TRANSMITTING OPTICAL FIBER

FIBER OPTICS ARE NOW BEING USED TO TRANSMIT IN THE FORM OF OPTICAL ENERGY WITH CONVERSION TO HEAT AT THE TARGET SITE. THE PRIMARY APPLICATIONS IN MEDICAL SITUATIONS ARE THOSE WHERE ACCESS IS LIMITED AND THE SIZE OF THE TARGET AREA IS SMALL. HIGH DELIVERED POWER IS REQUIRED FOR OPTIC FIBERS TO BE USEFUL IN APPLICATIONS SUCH AS CUTTING AND WELDING AND MILITARY APPLICATIONS. EXISTING FIBERS ARE LIMITED TO FUNCTION IN THE LOWER WAVELENGTH RANGES; FOR EXAMPLE, THE VISIBLE AND THE NEAR INFRARED. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE LIMITATION OF OPTICAL GLASS FIBERS TO TRANSMIT AT THE WAVELENGTH ASSOCIATED WOTH CO2 GAS LASERS. THIS PROGRAM WOULD PRODUCE FIBERS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF CO2 TRANSMISSION. THE FIBER USES A HOLLOW AIR-FILLED CORE FOR RANSMISSION. A SILICA HOLLOW FIBER WITH A UNIQUE INNER GLASS LINING SERVES AS A WAGEGUIDE. THE PROGRAM WILL DEVELOP THE INNER LINING GLASS CHEMISTRY AS WELL AS THE HOLLOW CORE FIBER FABRICATION PROCEDURES.