Recent advances in preparation of high-purity glasses based on arsenic chalcogenides for fiber optics

The processes of production of high-purity glasses based on arsenic chalcogenides and optical fibers with low optical losses in the middle IR have been analyzed. Physical-chemical, technological and methodological factors determining the degree of purity of glasses and the level of optical losses in optical fibers are considered. Dominant factors, rational actions and approaches optimizing the manifestation of these factors in glasses formed by arsenic chalcogenides are discussed. Vitreous As2S3 is produced with the content of hydroxyl groups not more than 1 ppb wt, of hydrogen in the form of SH-groups -75 ppb mol, of silicon -0.2 ppm wt. From this glass a multi-mode optical fiber was manufactured with optical losses of 12 and 14 dB/km at 3.0 and 4.8 mu m, respectively, which is the best result published in literature for chalcogenide glass optical fibers. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.