GaLaS optical fibers: thermo-optical properties and fiber drawing

Russell J. Hand; Richard I. Kangley; Jonathan D. Shephard; David Furniss; Angela B. Seddon

doi:10.1117/12.424381

16 April 2001 GaLaS optical fibers: thermo-optical properties and fiber drawing

Russell J. Hand, Richard I. Kangley, Jonathan D. Shephard, David Furniss, Angela B. Seddon

Proceedings Volume 4215, Optical Fiber and Fiber Component Mechanical Reliability and Testing; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.424381
Event: Information Technologies 2000, 2000, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Ga-La-S glasses have been selected as important candidate materials for fabrication of infrared optical fibres. A study has been conducted to assess possible influence of the thermo-optical properties of Ga-La-S glasses on the ability to produce strong optical fibres. The work was based around Ga-La-S compositions containing small additions of oxide producing 0.65 wt% [O] in the glass. These low oxide Ga-La-S glasses have previously proved difficult to draw into strong optical fibres. The visible absorption edge of the Ga-La-S glasses was measured and found to shift to longer wavelengths as the temperature increased, moving from 550nm at room temperature to 700nm at 600oC. At fibre drawing temperatures, around 660oC, the high frequency absorption edge had shifted from visible to infrared wavelengths significantly affecting the ability to draw strong fibres using conventional, radiative heating. Rods, with a 5mm diameter, of the Ga-La-S glasses were fabricated via an extrusion method producing a high quality surface finish suitable for fibre drawing. A conventional fibre furnace employing radiative resistance heating and a novel convective fibre furnace were both used to drawn fibres from the Ga-La-S performs. Fibres drawn using the convective furnace showed an improved surface quality and strength compared to fibres drawn using the radiative furnace. Initial strength measurements of uncoated fibres, drawn using the convective furnace, tested under ambient conditions show strength in the order of 0.7GPa which are comparable to the strengths for coated fibres of other chalcogenide glasses tested under liquid nitrogen.

Citation Download Citation

Russell J. Hand, Richard I. Kangley, Jonathan D. Shephard, David Furniss, and Angela B. Seddon "GaLaS optical fibers: thermo-optical properties and fiber drawing", Proc. SPIE 4215, Optical Fiber and Fiber Component Mechanical Reliability and Testing, (16 April 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.424381

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