Development of High-Purity REE-Doped Chalcogenide Glasses and Fibers for Mid-IR Optical Applications

In this paper, experimental results on the development of high-purity chalcogenide glasses and optical fibers for passive and active mid-IR fiber optics are presented. Novel Ge-As-Se-Ga and Ge-Sb-Se-Ga glass compositions are proposed and studied. Methods for the synthesis of high-purity glasses, host and doped with Pr(3+), Er(3+), Tb(3+) and Dy(3+) ions, are developed. The thermal, optical and luminescent properties of novel chalcogenide glasses are investigated. Glasses with a low tendency to crystallization, different glass transition temperatures (T
_g
= 220 - 356°C), and a strong mid-IR luminescence are produced. On the basis of prepared glasses, single-index, suspended-core and core-clad optical fibers are fabricated and investigated. Successful testing of these materials for the development of infrared optics devices is demonstrated.