Preparation, optimization, and infrared applications of TeX glass optical fibers

ABSTRACT TeX glass fibers with monoindex structure are routinely achieved with a minimum attenuation, less than1dB/rn, in the 8- 12 im strategic window. Their exceptional properties in the infrared allow to investigate manypotential applications such as laser power delivery, temperature sensing as well as remote chemical monitoring.Chalcohalide fibers having optical losses of 0.5dB/rn between 7 and 9 .tm have been obtained by thepreform drawing technique. These optical fibers are generally protected with an appropriate coating, thermal or/and Uv plastic. Such materials show clearly improved mechanical properties and a high flexibility suitable for industrialmanipulations.A high sensitivity of TeX glass fibers for chemical analysis by remote evanescent wave spectroscopy hasbeen demonstrated. The detection efficiency has been studied as a function of various parameters especially thefibers'diameter. TeX glass fibers with a tapered shape have allowed to detect very low concentrations of less than1%vol. in ethanol.Keywords : chalcohalide glass optical fiber -