Influence of healing on performances of flexible hollow waveguides for the mid-infrared

Two types (plastic and fused silica) of waveguides suitable for transmitting CO2 and Er-YAG laser radiation were prepared and characterized. The temperature of several points on the external surface of the waveguides was measured. Optical parameters (transmission, focusing, misalignment) of the two types of waveguides were measured and compared. The importance of heating (due to losses) on the long time delivery performance is also shown.