TeX-glass infrared optical fibers delivering medium power from a CO2 laser

Abstract Infrared glasses based on tellurium halides (TeX-glasses) present a wide transmission window ranging from 1 μm to more than 18 μm, depending on the compositions, for few millimeters thick samples. They present very good chemical durability against water or usual atmospheric conditions. These glasses can be drawn into optical fibers transmitting CO 2 laser radiations. The fibers can be monoindex ones or present a core-clad structure. A polymer that increases their flexibility can coat them. The minimum attenuation obtained for these infrared fibers is 0.5 dB/m in the 7–9.5 μm range. Radiation from a tunable CO 2 laser, operating around 9.3 μm and delivering a maximum output power of 7 W, has been injected in a 1 m long, 600 μm outer diameter, TeX-Glass fiber. The obtained output power of the fiber is 2.6 W.