Chalcogenide glass fiber with a core–cladding structure

Abstract

GeAsSeTe, GeSeTeTl, and GeSeTe glass fibers with a core-cladding structure were prepared by one of two methods: crucible drawing or preform drawing. The diameter of the core was 340 microm and that of the cladding was 440 microm. The transmission loss spectra of the fibers were measured by the cut-back method. The crucible drawing method was preferable to reduce the loss due to structural imperfections at the interface of the core and cladding. The lowest loss of 1.7 dB/m was achieved at 10.6 microm (the wavelength of the CO(2) laser) in the fibers with a GeSeTe core and a GeAsSeTe cladding. Transmission of CO(2) laser power was examined using a 1.5-m long fiber and an output power of 2 W (2.2 kW/cm(2) in power density) was obtained.