Corning Incorporated
MULTICORE OPTICAL FIBER WITH DEPRESSED INDEX COMMON CLADDING

Abstract:

A multicore optical fiber comprising: a depressed index common-cladding region having a refractive index .DELTA..sub.cc; and a plurality of core portions disposed within the depressed index common-cladding region, wherein each core portion comprises: a central axis, a core region comprising a relative refractive index .DELTA..sub.1, an inner-cladding region encircling and directly contacting the core region comprising a relative refractive index .DELTA..sub.2, a trench region encircling and directly contacting the inner cladding region comprising a relative refractive index .DELTA..sub.3, and an outer-cladding region encircling and directly contacting the trench region comprising a relative refractive index .DELTA..sub.4, wherein the refractive index of the depressed index common-cladding region .DELTA..sub.cc is less than the refractive index of the outer-cladding region .DELTA..sub.4, and wherein a difference between the refractive index of the depressed index common-cladding region .DELTA..sub.cc and the refractive index of the first outer-cladding region .DELTA..sub.4 is greater than 0.05% .DELTA..