Chalcogenide glasses with high non linear optical properties for telecommunications

Chalcogenide glasses in the [Ge-Se-As] vitreous system have been studied with respect to their third order non linear optical properties. Z-scan measurements of the non linear refractive index (n(2)) and non linear absorption (beta) have been performed both at 1.064 and 1.43 mum and the results of the measurements have been correlated to the structures of the glasses. The figure of merit has been calculated with the purpose of a potential utilization of these glasses in the realization of ultra-fast ah-optical switches. Non Linearities as high as 800 times the non linearity of silica glass have been obtained and some glasses exhibit at 1.43 mum non Linear optical characteristics suitable for telecommunication applications. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ah rights reserved.