Recent Advances in IR-Transmitting Fibers for Laser Power Delivery.

Abstract

Recent advances in IR-transmitting crystalline and glass fibers for laser power delivery are reviewed with emphasis on AlF3-based fluoride glass and chalcogenide glass fibers . The AlF3-based fluoride glass fiber with a high damage threshold exceeding 8 MW/cm2 input power density has for over 2 years been an important component of an Er: YAG dental laser system, offering flexible and stable, long-term transmission of high laser power. A high damage threshold of 200 kW/cm2 has been achieved in the As-S chalcogenide glass fiber, which is useful for CO laser power delivery. The power-handling capability of the As-S fiber far exceeds that attainable with the Ge-Se-Te chalcogenide glass fiber, which suffered thermal damage with CO2 laser powerdensity of only 40 kW/cm2. Fur crystalline fibers, AgClBr polycrystalline and sapphire single crystal fibers are commercially available for power delivery of the CO2 laser and the Er: YAG laser, respectively .