Fiber Fuse Propagation Behavior

Knowledge accumulated about fiber fuse propagation since 1988 is briefly
summarized. From a macroscopic viewpoint, the dissipative soliton
concept and an analogy with grassfire help us understand this strange
phenomenon. The strong heat-induced absorption of silica glass and the
highly confined supply of laser energy cause captured plasma to shift to
the light source along the fiber leaving catastrophic damage behind it.
From a microscopic viewpoint, the periodic void formation process was
unveiled by the statistical analysis of void shapes and ultra-fast
videography. The bullet-like shape of the damage train results from the
formation of an intrinsic bridge inside the hollow silica melt behind
the traveling plasma and the successive compression of detached voids
under a steep temperature gradient along the fiber.