Thin chalcogenide capillaries as efficient waveguides in the mid-IR - THz spectral range

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the fabrication and characterization of As2Se3 chalcogenide glass capillaries as efficient, low-loss waveguides across mid-IR and THz spectral ranges, utilizing controlled wall thickness for optimized guidance.

Contribution

It introduces a double crucible glass drawing technique to produce chalcogenide capillaries with tunable wall thickness and low loss properties in mid-IR and THz ranges.

Findings

Capillaries with wall thickness from 12 to 130 μm were successfully fabricated.

Low loss waveguiding observed across the entire target wavelength region.

Different guiding mechanisms (Fresnel reflection, ARROWs, total internal reflection) are effective in respective spectral ranges.

Abstract

We present chalcogenide glass As2Se3 capillaries as efficient waveguides in the mid-IR and THz spectral ranges. The capillaries are fabricated using a double crucible glass drawing technique. The wall thickness of the glass capillary is properly designed and controlled during drawing, and we are able to produce capillaries with different wall thickness, starting from 12 \mum and up to 130 \mum. Such capillaries show low loss properties in the whole target wavelength region. In the mid-IR range guidance is governed by Fresnel reflection and antiguidance mechanisms (ARROWs), while in the THz spectral range thin walls capillaries guide via total internal reflection.