Advances in methods of purification and dispersion measurement applicable to tellurite-based glasses

Abstract

The intensity of the absorption bands due to the hydroxyl (OH) vibrations in the spectrum of tellurite glasses was decreased by using tellurium tetrachloride (TeCl 4 ) as a dehydrating additive. This additive is incorporated with the initial reagents of the glass. During synthesis, it reacts with the OH groups present in the glass melt by releasing gaseous hydrochloric acid. The low chloride content remaining in the different glasses after their synthesis negligibly modifies their thermal properties, their stability against crystallization, and their refractive index. Its low impact on the refractive index of the glasses was assessed in the mid-infrared thanks to an enhanced prism coupling system using a supercontinuum laser as light source.

High repetition rate mid-infrared supercontinuum generation from 13 to 53 μm in robust step-index tellurite fibers

“…Quasi-single-mode step-index tellurite fibers are fabricated with a combination of built-in casting and rod-in-tube techniques, described in detail in a previous work [25]. Development of such multi-material fibers implies the co-drawing of different glasses with matching thermo-mechanical properties as well as adequate refractive index values [26]. Thus, the following tailored glass composition percentages were selected: 80TeO 2 -5ZnO-10Na 2 O-5ZnF 2 (TZNF) for the core and 60TeO 2 -20Na 2 O-15GeO 2 -5ZnO (TNaGZ) for the cladding.…”