ZnSe Optical Fiber For CO[sub]2[/sub] Laser Medical Applications

Michael A. Pickering; Raymond L. Taylor

doi:10.1117/12.950721

14 January 1986 ZnSe Optical Fiber For CO₂ Laser Medical Applications

Michael A. Pickering, Raymond L. Taylor

Proceedings Volume 0576, Optical Fibers in Medicine and Biology I; (1986) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.950721
Event: 29th Annual Technical Symposium, 1985, San Diego, United States

Abstract

Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) optical fibers 30 cm long by 1 mm in diameter have been fabricated by a grinding and polishing technique. The bulk transmission through a 30 cm length of these uncladded fibers is as high as 99 ± 2% at 10.6 pm. This corresponds to a bulk attenu-ation coefficient, a, as low as 0.2 dB/m. There appears to be no change in transmission within the uncertainty of the measurements when the fibers are bent to a radius of 115 cm. The minimum bend radius (fracture point) of the fibers was measured to be 60 ± 14 cm. As much as 14 watts of power for up to 5 min. was transmitted through the fiber without any damage or heating. Also power densities as high as 10 kW/cm² incident on the polished input end of the fiber caused no detectable damage to the surface. ZnSe can efficiently transmit radiation over a wide range of wavelengths (0.6 - 14 μm). Therefore, these ZnSe optical fibers can transmit radiation from He:Ne, Nd, HF/DF, CO and CO₂ lasers. The fabrication technique used to produce these fibers is scalable to longer lengths. Cladding techniques are currently under development. Such ZnSe fibers have potential application in catheters and endoscopes for CO₂ laser surgery, probes for remote optical measurements in hostile environments,and in various military infrared optical systems.

Citation Download Citation

Michael A. Pickering and Raymond L. Taylor "ZnSe Optical Fiber For CO₂ Laser Medical Applications", Proc. SPIE 0576, Optical Fibers in Medicine and Biology I, (14 January 1986); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.950721

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