TELLURIUM HALIDE GLASS-FIBERS - PREPARATION AND APPLICATIONS

Tellurium halide (TeX) glasses were prepared from high-purity raw materials which were purified in a silica set-up in order to eliminate the surface oxides. Ah the starting elements were then distilled. The rod in tube method was used to obtain TeX glass fibers having a core-cladding structure. The fiber attenuation was measured by using a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The fiber losses, regularly obtained, were < 1 dB/m in the 5-9 mu m range for mono-index fibers and about 1 dB/m for core-clad fibers. CO2 laser power delivery has been performed using a TeX glass fiber. More than 2.6 W has been obtained through a 1 m long fiber. These fibers have a wide optical window and were used in remote spectroscopy to analyze chemical species which absorb between 3 and 13 mu m. Different fermentation processes were monitored by this method which allows a quantitative and qualitative analysis after calibration of the system. Potential applications are discussed.