in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 460 nm in another example the processing wavelength u03bb is in the range from 300 nm to 1100 nm in an example radiation source 110 comprises a diode laser that emits radiation 112 at a processing wavelength within the 300 nm to 1100 nm range in an example coating 50 is substantially transparent to radiation 112 having processing wavelength u03bb here the term u201c substantially transparent u201d with respect to coating 50 and processing wavelength u03bb means that the amount of absorption in the coating at the processing wavelength is not sufficient to heat the undamaged coating to the point where the coating is removed from central glass portion 40 in an example radiation source 110 includes or consists of a 405 nm blue violet diode laser i e u03bb 405 nm which is widely used in blu ray disc u2122 players such diode lasers operate in single mode and thus emit a gaussian beam having excellent beam quality another example radiation source 110 includes or consists of a blue diode laser that emits radiation at a nominal processing wavelength u03bb 445 nm in an example radiation source 110 is operably attached to a portable power supply 116 which in an example is or includes one or more batteries generally speaking radiation source 110 can be any radiation source that emits radiation 112 at a nominal processing wavelength u03bb of either 405 nm or 445 nm and that provides sufficient optical power to carry out the optical fiber stripping methods disclosed herein while allowing optical system 100 to be sufficiently compact to be readily deployed and used in the field the optical system 100 also includes a.