High power single-mode delivery of mid-infrared sources through chalcogenide fiber

Mechanically robust and low loss single-mode arsenic sulfide fibers are used to deliver high power mid-infrared sources. Anti-reflection coatings were deposited on the fiber facets, enabling 90% transmission through 20 cm length fibers. 10.3 W was transmitted through an anti-reflection coated fiber at 2053 nm, and uncoated fibers sustained 12 MW/cm2 intensities on the facet without failure. A Cr:ZnSe laser transmitted >1 W at 2520 nm, and a Fe:ZnSe laser transmitted 0.5 W at 4102 nm. These results indicate that by improving the anti-reflection coatings and using a high beam quality mid-infrared source, chalcogenide fibers can reliably deliver 10 W in a single mode, potentially out to 6.5 μm. © 2018 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement OCIS codes: (060.2270) Fiber characterization; (060.2390) Fiber optics, infrared; (160.2290) Fiber materials; (060.2280) Fiber design and fabrication; (140.3070) Infrared and far-infrared lasers. 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