New germanium sulfide-based glasses

Abstract A new class of sulfide glasses has been discovered in the GeS 2 -BaS-ZnS system. They are prepared in sealed silica tube conditions by heating at temperatures above 1000°C. The most stable glass-forming compositions are located in the middle of the diagram close to the ratio 33.3GeS 2 -33.3BaS-33.3 ZnS. Thermal and optical characteristics have been conducted in order to qualify this new vitreous matrix as an optical host for rare earth spectroscopy.