Chalcogenide Microstructured Optical Fibers For Chemical Sensing

Chalcogenide glasses are known for their transparency in the infrared optical range and their ability to be drawn as fibers. Such optical fibers can transmit light from 2 to 20 mu m depending on the composition of the glass constituting the fiber. They are consequently good candidates to be used in biological/chemical sensing. Different types of fiber can be used: single index fibers or microstructured fibers. Besides, a new configuration of microstructured fibers has been developed: microstructured exposed-core fibers. This design consists of an optical fiber with a suspended micron-scale core that is partially exposed to the external environment.