Highly birefringent chalcogenide optical fiber for polarization-maintaining in the 3-8.5 µm mid-IR window

Opt Express. 2016 Apr 18;24(8):7977-86. doi: 10.1364/OE.24.007977.

Abstract

A highly birefringent polarization-maintaining chalcogenide microstructured optical fiber (MOF) covering the 3-8.5 µm wavelength range has been realized for the first time. The fiber cross-section consists of 3 rings of circular air holes with 2 larger holes adjacent to the core. Birefringence properties are calculated by using the vector finite-element method and are compared to the experimental ones. The group birefringence is 1.5x10-3 and fiber losses are equal to 0.8 dB/m at 7.55 µm.