Infrared optical glasses and fibers based on the chalcogenide glasses system Ge-Sn-Se-Te

Abstract

Chalcogenide glasses of the systems Ge-Sn-Se, Ge-Se-Te and Ge-Sn-Se-Te have been prepared. The region of high IR transparency of Ge-Se-Sn, Ge-Se-Te and Ge-Sn-Se-Te glasses was slightly expanded (1 -2 m) towards longer wavelengths, compared to Ge-Se glasses. The intensity of the impurity absorption peak of Ge-O (at A 12.8 pm) which usually appears in Ge-Se glasses, was reduced or absent in Ge-Sn- Se-Te glasses. The expansion of IR transparency and the reduction of Ge-O absorption peak enable one to employ these glasses for drawing fibers for CO2 laser radiation (10.6 jim) transmission.