Optical properties of GeO_2 glass and optical fibers

Abstract

The optical properties of GeO(2) glass were investigated to clarify its potentiality as an optical fiber material. Glass samples were prepared by the flame hydrolysis and the melting techniques, and their Rayleigh scattering and infrared absorption properties were examined. Optical fibers composed of a pure GeO(2) core and an F-doped GeO(2) cladding were drawn to clarify the scattering loss characteristics. The Rayleigh-scattering intensity obtained from spectral loss measurements on the fibers agreed with that measured in bulk samples, and the intensity relative to that of SiO(2) glass was found to be approximately 3. These results suggest that a minimum loss of 0.15 dB/km is expected at a wavelength of 2 microm.