A method forms an optical fiber preform. The method includes forming a sol-gel-derived
rod having a first diameter. Forming the sol-gel-derived rod includes preparing
a sol-gel solution including at least 3 mole % of a catalyst. The sol-gel solution
is allowed to undergo gelation to form a wet gel monolith. The wet gel monolith
is dried and shrunk by exposing the wet gel monolith to a temporal temperature
profile, thereby forming a xerogel monolith. The xerogel monolith is consolidated,
thereby forming the sol-gel-derived rod. The method further includes drawing the
sol-gel-derived rod to substantially reduce its diameter, thereby forming a drawn
rod having a second diameter less than the first diameter.
