Fiber sensor on the basis of Ge26As17Se25Te32 glass for FEWS analysis

The high-purity Ge26As17Se25Te32 glass sample was prepared by chemical distillation purification method. This glass is characterized by high value of glass transition temperature (263°С), high optical transparency in the spectral range of 2-10 μm, and low content of residual impurities. The Ge26As17Se25Te32 glass rods were drawn into single-index fibers using the ”rod” method and the single crucible technique. The optical losses in the 400 μm diameter fiber, fabricated by the ”rod” method, were within 0.3-1 dB/m in the spectral range 5.2-9.3 μm. The minimum optical losses in the 320 μm diameter fiber, fabricated by the ”crucible” technique, were 1.6-1.7 dB/m in the spectral range 6-8.5 μm. Using these Ge26As17Se25Te32 glass fibers as a sensor, the aqueous solutions of acetone (0-20 mol.%) and ethanol (0-90 mol.%) were analyzed by fiber evanescent wave spectroscopy. Peculiarities in the change of the integrated intensity and spectral position of absorption bands of these organic substances in dependence on the analyte composition and the length of the sensitive zone were established.