Infrared fibers based on Te–As–Se glass system with low optical losses

Unclad optical fibers based on high-purity Te–As–Se glasses prepared by chemical and physical methods of purification have been drawn. The optical, thermal and mechanical properties of glasses and fibers were investigated. The minimum optical losses were 0.07 dB/m at 7.3 μm for Te25As40Se35 glass fiber and 0.04 dB/m at 6.7 μm for Te20As30Se50 glass fiber. Sixty five percent of input power of a tunable CO2 laser emitting at 9.3 μm was transmitted through a 1 m long fiber with diameter of 900 μm.