Abstract

Optical fibers transmitting in the 2-5-μm region offer potential for various short to medium range applications such as IR focal plane dissection, IR sensing, pyrometry, and medical optics. There are also prospective benefits for long distance communications such as low loss, increased size for monomode fibers, and reduced susceptibility to nuclear radiation effects. Heavy metal fluoride glasses, such as the fluorozirconates¹ and the analogous fiuorohafnates,² are prime candidates for use as fibers in the mid-IR. We describe efforts to prepare and characterize plastic clad waveguides from selected multicomponent fluoride glasses using the single crucible method.

© 1981 Optical Society of America