Corning Incorporated
Low bend loss optical fiber with graded index core

Abstract:

A single mode optical fiber, comprising: (i) a silica based core having a graded refractive index profile with an alpha of less than 5, a relative refractive index .DELTA..sub.1max, and an outer radius r.sub.1, wherein 10 microns>r.sub.1.gtoreq.6.5 microns, the core comprising Cl, Ge, or a combination thereof; (ii) a first cladding region in contact with and surrounding the core, the first cladding region having a relative refractive index .DELTA..sub.2min, an inner radius r.sub.1, and an outer radius r.sub.2, wherein r.sub.2<20 microns; and (iii) an outer cladding region surrounding the first cladding region, the outer cladding region having a relative refractive index .DELTA..sub.3. The fiber has MFD at 1310 nm>than 9 microns, a zero dispersion wavelength <1306 nm; a 22 m cable cutoff wavelength <1260nm; and a bend loss <0.005 dB/turn when the fiber is bent around a 30 mm mandrel; and <0.5dB/turn when the fiber is bent around a 20 mm mandrel.