Abstract: A method of measuring temperature includes positioning an optical fiber in contact with an object or in an environment having a temperature to be determined, where the optical fiber comprises a core surrounded by a cladding; the core comprises an alkaline-earth fluorosilicate glass including defects, and the cladding comprises a silica glass. Infrared light is supplied to the optical fiber, thereby electronically exciting the defects. Green light emitted from the defects is detected, and an intensity value of the green light is obtained and converted to a temperature value for the optical fiber, whereby the temperature of the object or environment is determined. The green light may be detected along a length of the optical fiber, and a plurality of intensity values may be converted to a plurality of temperature values along the fiber length, thereby obtaining a distributed measurement of the temperature of the object or environment.

Abstract: A method of measuring temperature includes positioning an optical fiber in contact with an object or in an environment having a temperature to be determined, where the optical fiber comprises a core surrounded by a cladding; the core comprises an alkaline-earth fluorosilicate glass including defects, and the cladding comprises a silica glass. Infrared light is supplied to the optical fiber, thereby electronically exciting the defects. Green light emitted from the defects is detected, and an intensity value of the green light is obtained and converted to a temperature value for the optical fiber, whereby the temperature of the object or environment is determined. The green light may be detected along a length of the optical fiber, and a plurality of intensity values may be converted to a plurality of temperature values along the fiber length, thereby obtaining a distributed measurement of the temperature of the object or environment.

Abstract: A rare earth-doped optical fiber comprises a fluorosilicate core surrounded by a silica cladding, where the fluorosilicate core comprises an alkaline-earth fluoro-alumino-silicate glass, such as a strontium fluoro-alumino-silicate glass. The rare earth-doped optical fiber may be useful as a high-power fiber laser and/or fiber amplifier. A method of making a rare earth-doped optical fiber comprises: inserting a powder mixture comprising YbF3, SrF2, and Al2O3 into a silica tube; after inserting the powder mixture, heating the silica tube to a temperature of at least about 2000° C., some or all of the powder mixture undergoing melting; drawing the silica tube to obtain a reduced-diameter fiber; and cooling the reduced-diameter fiber. Thus, a rare earth-doped optical fiber comprising a fluorosilicate core surrounded by a silica cladding is formed.

Abstract: A rare earth-doped optical fiber comprises a fluorosilicate core surrounded by a silica cladding, where the fluorosilicate core comprises an alkaline-earth fluoro-alumino-silicate glass, such as a strontium fluoro-alumino-silicate glass. The rare earth-doped optical fiber may be useful as a high-power fiber laser and/or fiber amplifier. A method of making a rare earth-doped optical fiber comprises: inserting a powder mixture comprising YbF3, SrF2, and Al2O3 into a silica tube; after inserting the powder mixture, heating the silica tube to a temperature of at least about 2000° C., some or all of the powder mixture undergoing melting; drawing the silica tube to obtain a reduced-diameter fiber; and cooling the reduced-diameter fiber. Thus, a rare earth-doped optical fiber comprising a fluorosilicate core surrounded by a silica cladding is formed.