Surface-tension-driven flows at low Reynolds number arising in optoelectronic technology

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Abstract
Some methods of formation of preforms for drawing of polarization-maintaining optical fibres are based on utilization of the surface tension of glass in the liquid state. Under the action of surface tension non-circular glass articles begin to flow, which results in formation of an anisotropic internal structure of the preforms. The hydrodynamic analysis of two such methods is given in the paper. Analytical solutions of the Stokes equations with linearized boundary conditions for the corresponding creeping surface-tension-driven flows of liquid glass are obtained. By means of these solutions a processing strategy may be predetermined with a view to a specific internal structure of the fibre, as well as to the required value of birefringence. The theoretical results are compared with experimental data and agreement is fairly good.