Chalcogenide glass optical fibers

Abstract
Amorphous Materials (AMI) has served since 1977 as a source of high purity, optically homogeneous plates of selenium-based glasses used in passive IR (FLIR) night vision systems. Over the past three years, Amorphous Materials has used this chalcogenide glass technology and capability to develop a unique process to prepare optical fibers. The process is based on using 2 inch cores removed from a homogeneous plate and sealed in a chamber which can be heated so that fibers may be pulled from a small tube in the bottom. Methods for cladding and coating with thermal plastic using split dies have been developed. The method has been used to produce flexible, low attenuation fibers based on an As-Se-Te composition. High purity As2S3 glass has been used to produce fibers capable of transmitting substantial amounts of IR laser energy. Physical properties of both fibers are discussed.