Sources And Detectors For Potential Super-Long Wavelength (2 µm-6 µm) Fiber Optics Applications

Abstract

A new class of optical fibers operating in the 2 μm to 6 μm region and at longer wave-lengths is presently under development. These fibers offer the enticing possibility of losses far below those currently or potentially achievable with conventional silica fibers. They may be useful in applications requiring short links, such as those found in a variety of instrumentation systems. Ultimately, when their development reaches the predicted performance, their use in repeaterless communication systems, over hundreds to thousands of kilometers in length, may become a reality. A very important aspect of the systems problems that must be considered is the availability of sources and detectors. This paper briefly reviews the state-of-the-art in laser sources and photodetectors that are appropriate candidates to be used in conjunction with these fibers. The characteristics of presently available Pb-salt and other lasers are reviewed; the performance parameters attained with HgCdTe and other detectors are summarized.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.