Preparation of core-clad arsenic rich AsSe glass fiber

Samples of arsenic-rich AsSe glasses with the low content of limiting impurities are prepared; their transmission, Raman spectra and thermal properties are investigated. It is found that the As46Se54 ÷ As50Se50 glasses do not crystallize during annealing and DSC analysis at a heating rate of 2.5 ÷ 10 K/min, as opposite of the As40Se60 composition. For the first time, using a double crucible technique, the rods of high pure As48Se52 and As46Se54 glasses are drawn into a core-clad optical fiber. Over 100 m of this fiber with core diameter of 550 μm, cladding diameter of 600 μm and protective F-42 fluoroplastic coating are produced. The prepared arsenic-rich As48Se52/As46Se54 glass fiber has a good mechanical strength, invariable optical transmittance along the fiber length and the minimum optical losses of 260 dB/km at a wavelength of 3.1 μm.