Open AccessInfrared single mode chalcogenide glass fiber for space
Author(s) -
Patrick Houizot,
Catherine BoussardPlédel,
Albert Faber,
L.K. Cheng,
Bruno Bureau,
Peter A. van Nijnatten,
W.L.M. Gielesen,
J. Pereira do Carmo,
Jacques Lucas
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.012529
Subject(s) - chalcogenide , optics , wavefront , cladding (metalworking) , interferometry , chalcogenide glass , materials science , infrared , optical fiber , single mode optical fiber , refractive index , optoelectronics , physics , metallurgy
An important measuring technique under study for the DARWIN planet finding mission, is nulling interferometry, enabling the detection of the weak infrared emission lines of an orbiting planet. This technique requires a perfect wavefront of the light beams to be combined in the interferometer. By using a single mode waveguide before detection, wavefront errors are filtered and a virtually perfect plane wavefront is obtained. In this paper the results on the development and the optical characterisation of suitable infrared transmitting chalcogenide glasses and mid-IR guiding optical fibers are reported. Two different perform techniques for manufacturing core-cladding chalcogenide fibers are described. Two types of step index fibers, prepared with Te(2)As(3)Se(5) chalcogenide glasses, offer single mode guidance at 10.6 mum.