Can we fabricate that fibre?

Abstract

This paper reviews the development of an efficient mathematical model for the drawing of optical fibres using extensional flow theory which is applicable for fibres of arbitrary geometry. The model is comprised of a 1D axial stretching problem describing the change in area of the cross-section from preform to fibre coupled with a 2D cross-plane problem describing the evolution of a cross-section. The solution of the axial stretching problem may be written in an exact form while the cross-plane problem must, in general, be solved numerically. The model may be used to solve forward and inverse problems and gives results that compare well with experiments.