Propagation of infrared radiation in silver halide optical fibers

The relation between microscopic scattering and absorption properties, and the measurable macroscopic transmission properties of silver halide infrared fibers were investigated. Four mechanisms were considered, both by numerical simulation and far-field measurements: core scattering, surface scattering, absorption, and surface losses. The dominant mechanism in changing the angular distribution of the transmitted light was found to be the core scattering. Microscopic scattering and absorption properties were derived by fitting the experimental results.