Method and apparatus for generating an electrical arc

Abstract

A method for preparing (e.g., cleaning or stripping) an optical fiber that includes reducing the gap resistance between two electrodes by injecting negative ions into the gas or gasses that are located between the electrodes. As a result, the voltage that is required to cause dielectric breakdown and initiation of the electrical arc is drastically reduced.

1 . A method of preparing an optical fiber, comprising:
 providing a first electrode and a second electrode;   injecting ions into a gap region between said first electrode and said second electrode, said ions reducing a gap resistance of said gap region;   providing a voltage to said first electrode, said voltage causing an electrical arc to be formed between said first electrode and said second electrode, said electrical arc generating heat; and   using said heat to remove coating material that is present on a portion of said optical fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said optical fiber includes at least one coating layer, wherein said preparing comprises cleaning said optical fiber, wherein said portion of said optical fiber is a stripped portion of said optical fiber formed by removing nearly all of said at least one coating layer from said portion of said optical fiber, and wherein said coating material comprises debris left on said stripped portion of said optical fiber after said nearly all of said at least one coating layer is removed from said portion of said optical fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said optical fiber includes at least one coating layer, wherein said preparing comprises stripping said optical fiber, and wherein said coating material that is present on said portion of said optical fiber that is removed comprises nearly all of said at least one coating layer that is present at said portion of said optical fiber. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said step of injecting said ions into said gap region occurs prior to said step of providing said voltage. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said step of injecting said ions into said gap region also occurs during said step of providing said voltage.