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Free keywords:
FIBER MANUFACTURE; SURFACE-TENSION; CAPILLARY; FABRICATION; TRANSPORT;
TUBEEngineering; asymptotic analysis; holey fibre; microstructured optical fibres;
photonic crystal fibres; numerical efforts;
Abstract:
Microstructured optical fibres (i.e. fibres that contain holes) have assumed a high profile in recent years, and given rise to many novel optical devices. The problem of manufacturing such fibres by heating and then drawing a preform is considered for both the cases of annular microfibres and annular capillaries. A fluid-mechanics model suggested in literature that uses asymptotic analysis based on the small aspect ratio of capillaries is analysed and revised. The leading-order equations are examined in some asymptotic limits, many of which give valuable practical information about the control parameters that influence the drawing process. Additionally, the solution obtained for a single capillary provides a suitable basis for describing more complicated fibre structures.
