PROSPECTS FOR ULTRA-LOW LOSS USING FLUORIDE GLASS OPTICAL FIBER - A REVIEW

Fluoride glass optical fiber is considered to offer the potential of an ultra-low loss exceeding that of silica-based optical fiber. This theoretical possibility is based on materials science studies of the optical, thermal and other properties of fluoride glass. Processing science, however, has not reached the stage where this fiber can be actually produced. Progress in both processing and materials science is of great importance. Examples of recent progress in the former are techniques for single-mode optical fiber fabrication and preform fabrication by CVD. Steady, scientific approaches appear to be the surest way to achieve the goal of ultra-low loss optical fiber.