Single-mode chalcogenide microstructured optical fibers: A solution for mid-IR fibered QCL (Conference Presentation)

The mid-infrared molecular fingerprint region has gained great interest in the last decade thanks to development of on-chip semiconductor lasers and mid-IR optical fibers. For integrated-optic devices and optical sensors based on interferometric techniques, versatile and easy handling devices can be required. In this context, low-loss single-mode chalcogenide microstructured optical fibers (MOF) which presents an antireflection coating have been elaborated in order to be connected to a Distributed Feedback Quantum Quantum Cascade Laser (DFB-QCL). In addition, another original design of a chalcogenide MOF has been also realized in order to obtained high birefringence properties that can permit to maintain the polarization of the QCL at the output of the fiber. Finally, the fiber properties have been evaluated using a DFB-QCL emitting at 7.4 µm and the polarization maintaining of the chalcogenide fiber has been demonstrated[2]. The combination between a DFB-QCL with such non-conventional fibers has led to the development of single-mode fibered Mid IR lasers.