Heavy-oxide glasses with superior mechanical assets for nonlinear fiber applications in the mid-infrared
Clément Strutynski, Florian Calzavara, Théo Guérineau, Laura Loi, Romain Laberdesque, Jean‐Michel Rampnoux, Steeve Morency, Yannick Ledemi, Yannick Petit, Marc Dussauze, Frédéric Désévédavy, F. Smektala, Sylvain Danto, Lionel Canioni, Younès Messaddeq, Evelyne Fargin, Thierry Cardinal
Abstract
The ability to produce robust fiber-based integrated optical systems operating over a wide spectral domain (UV to mid-infrared), is one of today’s key challenges in photonics. This work reports on the production of crystal-free, light guiding fibers from rich Ga 2 O 3 oxide-based glass compositions. These materials show optical transmission extending from ultraviolet wavelengths (∼0.280 µm) up to 6 µm in the IR for millimeter length scale while exhibiting relatively high vitreous transition temperatures (∼735 °C), nonlinear optical properties and improved surface micro-hardness. This combination of superior thermal, mechanical and optical properties represents a promising alternative for the development of robust fibers operating in the visible up to the 3–5 µm window.