Gallium lanthanum sulfide glasses and optical waveguides and devices using such glasses

摘要

A new and improved hybrid of Ga:La:S (GLS) glass is provided, namely a glass comprising gallium sulfide, lanthanum oxide, and at least 2 mol % lanthanum fluoride. The Ga:La:S:O:F (GLSOF) glass retains the important properties of the Ga:La:S system, while introducing improved thermal stability and spectroscopic properties. In addition, GLSOF glasses are non-toxic. The glass formation region for GLSOF has been carefully evaluated with compositional variations. It has been identified that an area of glass formation as indicated by circles, is a new and previously undiscovered glass formation region.