Infrared Fiber Optics

As an expert in the field with nearly 30 years' experience, Harrington provides complete and up-to-date coverage of infrared fiber technology. Readers are given in-depth facts about the three key types of IR fibers, including how they developed and how they work. What sets this book apart is its comprehensive look at current and future applications, such as IR fiber amplifiers and photonic bandgap fibers, as well as fabrication techniques. Scientists, engineers, and business people will learn about their myriad uses and possible uses in telecommunications, medicine and surgery, and sensors, among others.

In the past 10 years, there have been many developments in the field of infrared transmitting fiber optics. This is highlighted by the many different fiber compositions that have been studied around the world for numerous practical applications. This book reviews different fiber systems, describing material properties, techniques used to prepare the fibers and fiber properties with particular emphasis on optical properties. These fibers possess unique optical, mechanical, and physical properties, enabling many technologies. Examples of applications are described within given chapters, allowing an engineer or scientist to choose the most appropriate fiber for a desired application. The introduction gives the reader an overview of transmission theory so that the basic concepts are clearly understood by someone new to the field. The next several chapters describe the different types of infrared transmitting fibers, including glass fibers such as those based on silica, fluoride, and chalcogenide glasses; the crystalline fibers based on single or polycrystalline materials; and hollow waveguides. The commercial chemical sensing applications of some of these new fibers are described. The final chapter summarizes the properties of the fibers and highlights future prospects.

Mid-Infrared Fibre Photonics: Glass Materials, Fibre Fabrication and Processing, Laser Sources and Devicess combines the latest glass chemistry, fibre fabrication and post processing techniques to provide a comprehensive reference on the fundamental science and latest research in fibre photonics for the mid-infrared range. The book systematically reviews the key glass materials systems including fluorides, chalcogenides, and oxides. Each materials chapter includes discussion of composition, structure, thermal, optical and mechanical properties, extrinsic and intrinsic loss mechanisms, materials preparation and purification techniques. Then Mid-Infrared Fibre Photonics: Glass Materials, Fibre Fabrication and Processing, Laser Sources and Devicess covers the most relevant fabrication, post-processing, and spectroscopy techniques. Fibre sources are also addressed including fibre sources for continuous wave emission, pulsed emission, and broadband emission. The book concludes with a brief overview of important medical, sensing and defence applications. Systematic coverage of the most relevant materials for mid-infrared fibre photonics including discussion of composition, structure, thermal, optical and mechanical properties, loss mechanisms, materials preparation and purification techniques Reviews the key fabrication and processing techniques of mid-infrared fibre technologies Addresses the important medical, sensing and defence applications

A practical and systematic guide, which gives the basic theory of light guiding and transmission loss mechanisms. Glassy and crystalline fibers and hollow waveguides are also addressed.