Mid-infrared interferometry with non-adiabatic tapered ZBLAN optical fiber
Francesco Anelli, Andrea Annunziato, Antonella Maria Loconsole, Vito Vincenzo Francione, Solenn Cozic, Samuel Poulain, Francesco Prudenzano
Abstract
This work illustrates, to the best of our knowledge, the first non-adiabatic tapered single-mode zirconium fluoride optical fiber sensor in the mid-infrared spectral range. It is designed and fabricated via pulling and heating technique. A waist diameter d w = 25 µm with no visible crystallization is achieved, overcoming the typical fluoride glass challenges associated with crystallization, narrow temperature fabrication window, and low glass transition temperature. The performance of the non-adiabatic tapered optical fiber is theoretically and experimentally investigated, demonstrating its high potential for a wide range of sensing applications in the mid-infrared spectral range.