Fabrication of Tapered Devices with Fluoride and Chalcogenide Optical Fibers for Mid-IR Applications

In this paper, advancements in fabrication techniques of fused optical fiber devices for the mid-infrared spectral range are reported. Fused optical fiber devices have revolutionized optical systems. Careful monitoring and control of the fabrication process are required to ensure consistent and reliable device performance when considering fluoride and chalcogenide optical fibers. The fabrication of tapered optical fiber and combiners via processing system Vytran GPX-2400 of fluoroindate and selenide glasses is here presented. A comparison between the taper of a single optical fiber and that of a combiner with seven optical fibers for both the adopted materials is discussed. The paper provides a practical framework and reference point to pave the way for the development of mid-infrared optical fiber devices, allowing the possibility to improve performance and versatility in lasing, sensing and imaging.