High purity Ge-Sb-Se/S step index optical fibers

Chalcogenide glasses are a promising group of materials for remote sensing applications. Two compositions from the Ge-Sb-Se/S system are investigated as core and cladding glasses in a step index fiber (SIF). Following thermomechanical and refractive index measurements, mid-infrared (MIR) light guiding is demonstrated through an 8 m length of SIF with a Ge20Sb10Se70 at. % core and Ge20Sb10Se67S3 at. % cladding. Using a single distillation procedure, Ge20Sb10Se70 at. % glass fibers are shown to have low optical loss across the 2 to 10 µm wavelength range with the lowest baseline loss shown as 0.44 dB/m at 6.4 µm