CAREER: Transport Phenomena in the Chemical Vapor Deposition of Hermetic Optical Fiber Coatings: An Integrated Research and Education Program

University Of Connecticut, Storrs CT

Investigators

Abstract

This research program will investigate hermetic coatings designed to limit the diffusion of water and hydrogen into optical fibers in order to improve fiber resistance to fatigue and hydrogen-induced attenuation. An improved hermetic coating will be found by fundamentally understanding the transport phenomena involved in the manufacture of such films by chemical vapor deposition. Guided by new experimental and theoretical analyses, this project will develop a better understanding to manufacture superior hermetic optical fiber coatings using fundamental knowledge of process property relationships. Fundamental knowledge gained from this project will be used to link process parameters such as draw rate, fiber temperature, and reactant gas concentration to the coating phase, structure, hermeticity, and deposition rate. Since these relationships will be able to identify new methods and optimal conditions to improve hermetic fiber performance, results from this study are expected to enhance fiber performance and reliability, and hence improve our information technology infrastructure.