Fabrication of single-mode chalcogenide optical fiber

Long lengths (>150 m) of single-mode chalcogenide optical fiber were fabricated by a double crucible technique. Single-mode transmission through 10 m of continuous fiber was demonstrated using an F-center laser at 2.7 /spl mu/m. The optical loss of this fiber was measured by a standard cutback technique using an FTIR spectrometer and also using an F-center laser, A minimum loss of less than 1 dB/m was obtained.