Solid Microstructured Chalcogenide Glass Optical Fibers for the Near- and Mid-Infrared Spectral Regions

This paper demonstrates a new and flexible route to microstructuring of chalcogenide glass fiber for operation in the near- to mid-infrared, presenting an alternative to air-glass microstructuring. For the first time, a one-layer, solid microstructured optical fiber is successfully drawn from As₄₀Se₆₀ and Ge₁₀As_23.4Se_66.6 (atomic %) chalcogenide glasses. Light guiding is demonstrated in the center core of this fiber at 1.55-mum wavelength.