Fluoride Glasses for Bulk Optical and Waveguide Applications

摘要

The overall goal of the research was to develop a wide transmission window heavy metal fluoride glass (HMFG) which could eventually be compatible with chemical vapor deposition (CVD) forming. During the first two years of contract work, a new composition field, i.e., CLAP (CdF2.LiF.AlF3.PbF2) glasses, were identified and the basic chemistry and properties of the system determined. Since the intent of the work is to use such glasses for bulk IR optics or for ultra-low-loss OWG fibers, further characterization was required. It remained to establish the utility of these glasses as practical infrared transmitting materials. This required that a method for removing water be found and that the effects of infrared absorbing impurities be determined. Work in these two areas constituted much of the recent effort.