Abstract: A non-lead optical glass consisting essentially of, as represented by mol %, from 45 to 75% of Bi2O3, from 12 to 45% of B2O3, from 1 to 20% of Ga2O3, from 1 to 20% of In2O3, from 0 to 20% of ZnO, from 0 to 15% of BaO, from 0 to 15% of SiO2+Al2O3+GeO2, from 0 to 15% of MgO+CaO+SrO, from 0 to 10% of SnO2+TeO2+TiO2+ZrO2+Ta2O3+Y2O3+WO3 and from 0 to 5% of CeO2, wherein Ga2O3+In2O3+ZnO?5%. An optical fiber comprising the above non-lead optical glass as a core.

Abstract: A method of forming an alkali metal oxide-doped optical fiber by diffusing an alkali metal into a surface of a glass article is disclosed. The silica glass article may be in the form of a tube or a rod, or a collection of tubes or rods. The silica glass article containing the alkali metal, and impurities that may have been unintentionally diffused into the glass article, is etched to a depth sufficient to remove the impurities. The silica glass article may be further processed to form a complete optical fiber preform. The preform, when drawn into an optical fiber, exhibits a low attenuation.

Abstract: Conventional glass compositions including bismuth as a fluorescent element have a broad amplification wavelength region but do not allow the emission intensity in the 1.3-?m range to be sufficiently high through the excitation caused by light in the 0.8-?m and 0.98-?m ranges. The present invention provides a glass composition including: bismuth; a glass network former; and at least one element selected from the group consisting of dysprosium, erbium, ytterbium, neodymium, thulium, holmium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and molybdenum (except for tetravalent titanium and trivalent iron), wherein the glass composition emits fluorescence in an infrared wavelength region, with the bismuth functioning as a fluorescent source through irradiation of excitation light. The emission intensity is increased by the sensitization effect of the at least one element.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic material, particularly for elements in laser systems, and a method for preparing same. The glass-ceramic material may be used for an optical fiber for communication systems and laser systems. The glass-ceramic may include gahnite crystals and optionally ?-quartz-like solid solution, or a petalite-like crystals, spinel, and zirconia crystals. The elements may comprise a host material glass-ceramic, where the glass-ceramic is doped with appropriate ions.

Abstract: A germanate glass composition suitable for use in a fiber amplifier for broadband amplification of optical signals is provided. The glass preferably includes 35-75% GeO2, 0-45% PbO, 5-20% BaO, 5-20% ZnO, and 2-10% R2O (R=Na, Li, K). It is doped with thulium ions (Tm3+) and codoped with holmium ions (Ho3+). The glass composition of the invention results in a remarkably large bandwidth as compared with previous glasses. It is also highly compatible with existing silica optical fibers.

Abstract: Various embodiments described herein include rare earth doped glass compositions that may be used in optical fiber and rods having large core sizes. Such optical fibers and rods may be employed in fiber lasers and amplifiers. The index of refraction of the glass may be substantially uniform and may be close to that of silica in some embodiments. Possible advantages to such features include reduction of formation of additional waveguides within the core, which becomes increasingly a problem with larger core sizes.

Abstract: There is provided a material on which a minute pattern in nanometer order can be formed and capable of providing a glass having transparency and high refractive index. A material for a high refractive index glass according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a polysilane, a silicone compound, and metal oxide nanoparticles. Preferably, the polysilane includes a branched polysilane. Preferably, the polysilane and the silicone compound are contained at a weight ratio of 80:20 to 5:95. Preferably, the metal oxide nanoparticles are formed of at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of zircon oxide, titanium oxide, and zinc oxide.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a light emitting unit interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a sealing material bonding the first substrate to the second substrate and sealing the light emitting unit. The sealing material comprises V+4. In addition, a glass frit, a composition for forming a sealing material, and a method of manufacturing a light emitting device using the composition for forming a sealing material are provided to obtain the light emitting device. The sealing material of the light emitting device can be easily formed by coating and irradiation of electro-magnetic waves, so that manufacturing costs are low and deterioration of the light emitting unit occurring when sealing material is formed can be substantially prevented. The sealing material has good sealing properties and thus a light emitting device including the sealing material has a long lifetime.

Abstract: The invention relates to bismuth oxide glass, containing germanium oxide, a method for the production thereof, the use thereof and a glass fiber consisting of said inventive glass.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic material, particularly for elements in laser systems, and a method for preparing same. The glass-ceramic material may be used for an optical fiber for communication systems and laser systems. The glass-ceramic may include gahnite crystals and optionally ?-quartz-like solid solution, or a petalite-like crystals, spinel, and zirconia crystals. The elements may comprise a host material glass-ceramic, where the glass-ceramic is doped with appropriate ions.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a fiber waveguide having a waveguide axis, including a core extending along the waveguide axis and a confinement region extending along the waveguide axis surrounding the core. The confinement region includes a periodic structure along a radial direction extending from the waveguide axis and each period in the periodic structure includes a layer of a chalcogenide glass and a layer of a polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides fluorescent glass containing at least 50 mol % of at least one kind of oxide selected from the group consisting of SiO2, GeO2, and P2O5 as a glass constituent of a region containing a Bi ion as a dopant.

Abstract: A short optical glass is disclosed which does not comprise any silver, copper, thallium, lead or boron and is particularly suited for the application imaging, projection, telecommunication, optical information technology, and/or laser technology, also particularly suited for fiber applications (light guides or imaging guides). Preferably the glass has a refractive index of 1.55?nd?1.65 and an Abbe coefficient of 48?vd?57 and also has good attenuating and ion exchange characteristics, good chemical stability and good crystallization stability. The glass comprises 35 to <50 wt.-% SiO2; 1 to 10 wt.-% Al2O3; 5 to 15 wt.-% Na2O+K2O+CS2O+Li2O; 20 to 30 wt.-% BaO; 0 to 15 wt.-% ZnO; 0 to 10 wt.-% La2O3; 0 to 10 wt.-% ZrO2; 0 to 6 wt.-% P2O5; 0 to 8 wt.-% MgO+CaO+SrO; 0 to 3 wt.-% of other oxides, and Cs2O<1, Li2O<1, and TiO2<1 wt.-%.

Abstract: An infrared-transmitting glass material consists essentially of 35.3% wt. arsenic and 64.3% wt. selenium and has an expansion coefficient of 27×10?6/° C.

Abstract: An optical glass having a small photoelastic constant (?) suitable for parts for polarizing optical system and light polarization control elements and having a refractive index (nd) within a range from 1.60 to 1.68 and an Abbe number (? d) within a range from 40 to less than 65 comprises, as atoms constituting the optical glass, P 5–10 mol % Al 1–3 mol % Ba 8–13 mol %, Gd 1–5 mol % Nb 0.1–3 mol % F 15–35 mol % and O 40–52 mol %.

Abstract: An optical fiber has a fiber core with a higher refractive index and a cladding surrounding the core with a lower refractive index. The fiber core is made of a multi-component oxide glass composition which consists of a glass-forming component and two Raman-active components. The glass former is SiO2 and the Raman active components are of Li2O and Nb2O5. The concentration of the glass former is between 30 and 90 mol % and of the Raman active components is up to 50 mol % in total. The composition may further include a glass-modifying component of alkaline such as Li2O, Na2O, K2O, Rb2O, Cs2O or earth-alkaline such as BeO, MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO in a concentration of up to 40 mol %.

Abstract: An optical glass having a high refractive index and high dispersion characteristics suitable for application to precision press molding to precisely mold final products without requiring grinding or polishing. An optical glass can be prepared exhibiting a refractive index in the range of from 1.75 to 2.0, and an Abbé number in the range of from 20 to 28.5. Optical parts comprised of this glass; press-molding materials comprised of this glass; methods of manufacturing the same; and methods of manufacturing molded glass products employing these materials. A suitable optical glass is composed of the following in molar percent: 15–30% P2O5; 0.5–15% B2O3; 5–25% Nb2O5; 6–40% WO3; 4–45% of at least one of Li2O, Na2O or K2O; 1–5% K2O; 2–9% TiO2; and 0–30% (excluding 30%) of at least one RO selected from among BaO, ZnO, and SrO; with the total content of the above-stated components being equal to or more than 95 percent.

Abstract: An infrared-transmitting glass material consists essentially of 35.3% wt. arsenic and 64.3% wt. selenium and has an expansion coefficient of 27×10?6/° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a substantially transparent glass-ceramic ceramic, and a method for making a glass-ceramic, exhibiting an aluminogallate spinel crystal phase and having a glass-ceramic composition that lies within the SiO2—Al2O3—ZnO—K2O—Ga2O3—Na2O system and particularly consisting essentially, in weight percent on an oxide basis, of 25-50% SiO2, 15-45% ZnO, 0-26% Al2O3, 0-25% K2O, 0-10% Na2O, 0-32% Ga2O3, a K2O+Na2O amount of greater than 10%, a Al2O3+Ga2O3 of greater than 10%, the glass ceramic microstructure containing a crystal phase comprising at least 15%, by weight, of hexagonal ZnO crystals. Another aspect disclosed is optical element selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber, a gain or laser medium, and an amplifier component, a saturable absorber, with the element comprising a transparent glass-ceramic of the same composition and containing a crystallinity of at least about 15% by weight of hexagonal ZnO crystals.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photocatalytic filter which can fully secure a space of gaps to constitute a flow path for flowing a fluid to be disposed of and which has gaps structured for easily trapping an organic substance in the fluid when the fluid is brought into contact with a photocatalyst layer.

Abstract: Integrated glass ceramic spacecraft include a plurality of glass ceramic components including molded, tempered, annealed, and patterned glass ceramic components coupled together for forming a support structure or frame or housing through which is communicated optical signals through an optical communications grid and electrical signals through an electrical communications grid, with the optical communications grid and electrical communication grid forming a composite electrooptical communications grid for spacecraft wide intercommunications. The support structure multifunctions as a frame, a housing, a support, a thermal control system, and as part of an electrooptical communications grid while encapsulating a plurality of optical, electronic, electrical, and MEMS devices between which is communicated the electrical and optical signals over the electrooptical communication grid.

Abstract: A tellurite glass material has a composition of Li2O:TiO2:TeO2, and contains a dopant comprising ions of a rare earth metal. The rare earth ions can be thulium ions, Tm3+, to provide a material offering optical gain at 1470 nm. The properties of the glass make it suitable for the fabrication of high quality optical fibers and planar waveguides, which can in turn be used in optical amplifiers and oscillators. Co-doping the glass with acceptor ions such as holmium ions, Ho3+, improves the population inversion in the rare earth ions and hence enhances the gain.

Abstract: An optical amplifying glass comprising 100 parts by mass of a matrix glass and from 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of Er doped to the matrix glass, wherein the matrix glass comprises Bi2O3, at least one of B2O3 and SiO2, at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ga2O3, WO3 and TeO2, and La2O3 in such a ratio that Bi2O3 is from 20 to 80 mol %, B2O3+SiO2 is from 5 to 75 mol %, Ga2O3+WO3+TeO2 is from 0.1 to 35 mol %, and La2O3 is from 0.01 to 15 mol %.

Abstract: A new and improved hybrid of Ga:La:S (GLS) glass is provided, namely a glass comprising gallium sulfide, lanthanum oxide, and at least 2 mol % lanthanum fluoride. The Ga:La:S:O:F (GLSOF) glass retains the important properties of the Ga:La:S system, while introducing improved thermal stability and spectroscopic properties. In addition, GLSOF glasses are non-toxic. The glass formation region for GLSOF has been carefully evaluated with compositional variations. It has been identified that an area of glass formation as indicated by circles, is a new and previously undiscovered glass formation region.

Abstract: A host material for Tm3+-doping is provided. The host material is a fluorophosphate glass having a non-zero concentration of Tm3+, cation elements that include at least an alkaline earth, phosphorus, and aluminum, and anion elements that include oxygen (O) and fluorine (F). The fluorine(F)/oxygen (O) ratio (F/(F+O)) for the fluorophosphate glass of the embodiments of the present invention can be in the range of about 0.5 to about 0.85. The fluorophosphate glass further can have an alkali metal concentration of 10 mole % or less to improve durability. The Tm-doped fluorophosphate glass can be incorporated into an amplifier or laser utilized in the 14xx nm wavelength region.

Abstract: Glasses in the Ca—Al—Si system are useful in forming optical components for use in telecommunication systems. The glasses include, in mole percent: SiO2 present in an amount of about 6 to about 60 percent, Ga2O3, Al2O3, or a combination thereof present in an amount of about 12 to about 31 percent, and CaO present in an amount of about 20 to about 65 percent.

Abstract: Materials, both glass and glass-ceramic, that exhibit UV-induced changes in light transmission and electrical conductivity behavior. The materials consist essentially, in mole %, of 20-40% SiO2, 10-20% AlO1.5, 35-55% SiO2+AlO1.5, at least 30% CdF2, 0-20% PbF2, and/or ZnF2, 0-15% rare earth metal fluoride, and 45-65% total metal fluorides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a substantially transparent glass-ceramic ceramic, and a method for making a glass-ceramic, exhibiting an aluminogallate spinel crystal phase and having a glass-ceramic composition that lies within the SiO2—Al2O3—ZnO—K2O—Ga2O3—Na2O system and particularly consisting essentially, in weight percent on an oxide basis, of 25-50% SiO2, 15-45% ZnO, 0-26% Al2O3, 0-25% K2O, 0-10% Na2O, 0-32% Ga2O3, a K2O+Na2O amount of greater than 10%, a Al2O3+Ga2O3 of greater than 10%, the glass ceramic microstructure containing a crystal phase comprising at least 15%, by weight, of hexagonal ZnO crystals. Another aspect disclosed is optical element selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber, a gain or laser medium, and an amplifier component, a saturable absorber, with the element comprising a transparent glass-ceramic of the same composition and containing a crystallinity of at least about 15% by weight of hexagonal ZnO crystals.

Abstract: A composition for a glass-ceramic material that contains a crystallinity of at least about 30% by weight of forsterite components at a liquidus temperature of about 1525 ° C. or below. The glass-ceramic has a composition, in weight percent on an oxide basis, consisting essentially of about: 40-60% SiO2; 10-25% Al2O3; 18-30% MgO; 3-10% Na2O; 0-10% K2O; >5-15% TiO2. The invention further comprises a method for achieving high crystalline yield at such a low liquidus with increased solubility of high levels of chromium ions. The glass-ceramics can be used in drawing optical fibers and as gain media in amplifier and laser devices for near infrared wavelengths.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a silica glass article comprising the steps of: (1) irradiating a silica glass article with electromagnetic waves to generate defects therein; and (2) immersing the thus irradiated silica glass article in an atmosphere comprising a hydrogen gas, thereby providing the resulting silica glass article with a characteristic that is effective for preventing it substantially from increasing its absorption within an ultraviolet region due to ultraviolet ray irradiation. Also disclosed are a silica glass article or a glass fiber produced according to the manufacturing process.

Abstract: Cd-free multicomponent glass to be used in particular as core glass (2) in glass fibers for optical twisters and tapers, the glass being of the lanthanide flint type and comprising the following main constituents (in mol %): B2O3 20-70 ZnO  1-15 Lanthanide oxide  1-23 ZrO2, and/or HfO2  1-10 As2O3 0.1-0.3.

Abstract: A modified silica glass composition for providing a reduction in the multiphonon quenching for a rare-earth dopant comprising: SiO2 in a host material; a rare-earth dopant; a first SiO2 modifier; and a second SiO2 modifier; such that said first modifier and said second modifier reduce multiphonon quenching of the rare-earth dopant contained therein.

Abstract: A paste for screen printing of electrical structures on substrates, in particular ceramic substrates, which includes a mixture of inorganic solid particles having high sintering temperature and an inorganic binding agent having a low sintering temperature below the sintering temperature of the inorganic solid particles, wherein the inorganic solid particles having high sintering temperature are at least partially in the form of fibers. The strength and breaking reliability of the printed and then fired electrical structures, such as resistors and coating layers, may be increased by the fiber components in the printing paste.

Abstract: A composition for a glass-ceramic material that contains a crystallinity of at least about 30% by weight of forsterite components at a liquidus temperature of about 1525° C. or below. The glass-ceramic has a composition, in weight percent on an oxide basis, consisting essentially of about: 40-60% SiO2; 10-25% Al2O3; 18-30% MgO; 3-10% Na2O; 0-10% K2O; >5-15% TiO2. The invention further comprises a method for achieving high crystalline yield at such a low liquidus with increased solubility of high levels of chromium ions. The glass-ceramics can be used in drawing optical fibers and as gain media in amplifier and laser devices for near infrared wavelengths.

Abstract: A family of tellurite glasses and optical components for telecommunication systems, the glasses consisting essentially of, as calculated in cation percent, 65-97% TeO2, and at least one additional oxide of an element having a valence greater than two and selected from the group consisting of Ta, Nb, W, Ti, La, Zr, Hf, Y, Gd, Lu, Sc, Al and Ga, that may contain a lanthanide oxide as a dopant, in particular erbium oxide, and that, when so doped, is characterized by a fluorescent emission spectrum having a relatively broad FWHM value.

Abstract: The present invention is a thulium doped silicate glass having an excellent fluorescent emission in the 1.4 &mgr;m band, and the usage thereof. The silicate glass of this invention includes: 65˜95 mol % SiO2; 0.5˜30 mol % bivalent metal oxide consisting of one or more material selected from ZnO, BaO, SrO and PbO; and 1˜15 mol % of SnO2 or TiO2, wherein 3˜30 mol % oxygen of the glass composition are replaced with fluorine, and 0.01˜1 mol % of thulium ions are doped, and the fluorescence lifetime of the 3H4 level of the Tm3+ is more than 50 &mgr;s. The silicate glass can be easily formed into a waveguide, such as optical fiber, and it has an excellent ability to splice with the optical fiber for transmission. They have excellent chemical durability and the characteristic of 1.4 &mgr;m band fluorescent emission by suppressing the non-radiative transition through multi-phonon relaxation. Thus they have long fluorescence lifetime of the 3H4 of Tm3+.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to UV (ultraviolet) photosensitive bulk glass, and particularly to batch meltable alkali boro-alumino-silicate glasses. The photosensitive bulk glass of the invention exhibits photosensitivity to UV wavelengths below 250 nm. The photosensitivity of the alkali boro-alumino-silicate bulk glass to UV wavelengths below 250 nm provide for the making of refractive index patterns in the glass. With a radiation source below 250 nm, such as a laser, refractive index patterns are formed in the glass. The inventive photosensitive optical refractive index pattern forming bulk glass allows for the formation of patterns in glass and devices which utilize such patterned glass.

Abstract: Disclosed is a substantially transparent glass-ceramic ceramic, and a method for making a glass-ceramic, exhibiting an aluminogallate spinel crystal phase and having a glass-ceramic composition that lies within the SiO2—Ga2O3—Al2O3—K2O—Na2O— system and particularly consisting essentially, in weight percent on an oxide basis, of 25-55% SiO2, 9-50% Ga2O3, 7-33% Al2O3, 0-20% K2O, 0-15% Na2O, 0-6 Li2O and 5-30% K2O+Na2O, the glass ceramic microstructure containing a crystal phase comprising at least 5%, by weight, of aluminogallate spinel crystals. Another aspect disclosed is optical element selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber, a gain or laser medium, and an amplifier component, a saturable absorber, with the element comprising a transparent glass-ceramic of the same composition and containing a crystallinity of at least about 5% by weight of aluminogallate spinel crystals.

Abstract: An optical amplifying glass comprising a matrix glass and, added thereto, from 0.01 to 10 wt % of Er, characterized in that said matrix glass substantially comprises, as represented by mol %, 20 to 80 of Bi2O3, 0 to 74.89 of B2O3, 0 to 79.99 of SiO2, 0.01 to 10 of CeO2, 0 to 50 of Li2O, 0 to 50 of TiO2, 0 to 50 of ZrO2, 0 to 50 of SnO2, 0 to 30 of WO3, 0 to 30 of TeO2, 0 to 30 of Ga2O3 and 0 to 10 of Al2O3, with the proviso that said matrix glass contains at least one of B2O3 and SiO2.

Abstract: An optical amplifier glass comprising a matrix glass containing Bi2O3 and at least one of Al2O3 and Ga2O3, and Er doped to the matrix glass, wherein from 0.01 to 10% by mass percentage of Er is doped to the matrix glass which has a total content of Al2O3 and Ga2O3 of at least 0.1 mol %, a content of Bi2O3 of at least 20 mol %, a refractive index of at least 1.8 at a wavelength of 1.55 &mgr;m, a glass transition temperature of at least 360° C. and an optical basicity of at most 0.49.

Abstract: An optical amplifying glass comprising a matrix glass and from 0.001 to 10% by mass percentage of Tm doped to the matrix glass, wherein the matrix glass contains from 15 to 80 mol % of Bi2O3 and further contains at least one component selected from the group consisting of SiO2, B2O3 and GeO2.

Abstract: A Tm-doped germanate glass composition comprises GeO2 having a concentration of at least 20 mole percent, Tm2O3 having a concentration of about 0.001 mole percent to about 2 mole percent, and Ga2O3, having a concentration of about 2 mole percent to about 40 mole percent. The composition can further include an alkaline earth metal compound selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO, BaF2, MgF2, CaF2, SrF2, BaCl2, MgCl2, CaCl2, SrCl2, BaBr2, MgBr2, CaBr2, SrBr2, and combinations thereof, and having a non-zero concentration of less than about 40 mole percent. The composition can further include an alkali metal compound selected from the group consisting of Li2O, Na2O, K2O, Rb2O, Cs2O, Li2F2, Na2F2, K2F2, Rb2F2, Cs2F2, Li2Cl2, Na2Cl2, K2Cl2, Rb2Cl2, Cs2Cl2, Li2Br2, Na2Br2, K2Br2, Rb2Br2, Cs2Br2 and combinations thereof, and having a non-zero concentration of less than about 20 mole percent.

Abstract: An optical amplifying glass comprising 100 parts by mass of a matrix glass and from 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of Er doped to the matrix glass, wherein the matrix glass comprises Bi2O3, at least one of B2O3 and SiO2, at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ga2O3, WO3 and TeO2, and La2O3 in such a ratio that Bi2O3 is from 20 to 80 mol %, B2O3+SiO2 is from 5 to 75 mol %, Ga2O3+WO3+TeO2 is from 0.1 to 35 mol %, and La2O3 is from 0.01 to 15 mol %.

Abstract: A new and improved hybrid of Ga:La:S (GLS) glass is provided, namely a glass comprising gallium sulfide, lanthanum oxide, and at least 2 mol % lanthanum fluoride. The Ga:La:S:O:F (GLSOF) glass retains the important properties of the Ga:La:S system, while introducing improved thermal stability and spectroscopic properties. In addition, GLSOF glasses are non-toxic. The glass formation region for GLSOF has been carefully evaluated with compositional variations. It has been identified that an area of glass formation as indicated by circles, is a new and previously undiscovered glass formation region.

Abstract: The specification describes ceram-glass compositions useful for electro-optic devices. The compositions have active ferroelectric ingredients in a tellurium oxide host. Proper processing of the ceram-glass produces highly transparent material with desirable ferroelectric properties. The ceram-glass materials can be used for electro-optic devices in both bulk and thin film applications.

Abstract: Cd-free multicomponent glass to be used in particular as core glass (2) in glass fibers for optical twisters and tapers, the glass being of the lanthanide flint type and comprising the following main constituents (in mol %): 1 B2O3 20-70 ZnO  1-15 Lanthanide oxide  1-23 ZrO2, and/or HfO2  1-10 As2O3 0.1-0.

Abstract: A borosilicate glass composition comprises SiO2 having a concentration of about 40 mole percent to about 60 mole percent, B2O3 having a concentration of about 10 mole percent to about 30 mole percent, and an alkaline earth and/or alkali compound having a concentration of 10 mole percent to about 40 mole percent. An optical fiber amplification device comprises a borosilicate glass material cladding. The core comprises a germanate glass material doped with Tm3+. The germanate glass material has a first surface configured to receive an optical signal having a wavelength of from about 1400 nm to about 1540 nm and a second surface configured to output an amplified optical signal. In this manner, low cost fiber amplifiers in the 1450-1530 nm wavelength region (corresponding to the S-band) can be achieved.

Abstract: New and improved compositions of doped and co-doped germanium fluorophosphate glasses for laser hosts and fiber amplifiers have a high refractive index (nD) 1.67-1.70, high transmission in the near infrared part of the spectra (to 6 micron) and a wide glass-forming domain. These glass systems [BaGe4O9—Ba(PO3)2—RFx] contain (mol %): BaF2, CaF2, MgF2, BiF3, PbF2 of 10 to 70 percent and GeO2 7.31 to 58.48 percent, P2O5 of 4.81 to 38.50 percent, BaO of 7.86 to 62.94 percent where dopants and co-dopants are over 100 percent (in wt %): Nd2O3(NdF3) of 0.5 to 15 percent, Er2O3(ErF3) of 0.2 to 12 percent, Yb2O3(YbF3) of 1.0 to 15 percent, Ho2O3(HoF3) of 1.0 to 10 percent, Pr2O3(PrF3) of 0.5 to 12 percent, Tm2O3(TmF3) of 0.2 to 10 percent, Tb2O3(TbF3) of 0.1 to 10 percent, MnO(MnF2) of 0.5 to 20 percent.

Abstract: A method for the production of glass suitable for use in an optical fiber, by (1) dissolving an optically active component in a solvent to form a solution; (2) mixing the solution and a powder substrate, wherein the powder substrate is insoluble in the solvent; and (3) melting the solution and powder substrate to form glass at a temperature or temperature range that causes melt viscosities at less than or equal to 100,000 poise. A glass made by such a method and an optical fiber comprising such a glass. An optical fiber having optically active ions having an unbleachable loss of 1% or less of the peak of absorption.

Abstract: A sol-gel process for fabricating bulk, germanium-doped silica bodies useful for a variety of applications, including core rods, substrate tubes, immediate overcladding, pumped fiber lasers, and planar waveguides, is provided. The process involves the steps of providing a dispersion of silica particles in an aqueous quaternary ammonium germanate solution—typically tetramethylammonium germanate, gelling the dispersion to provide a gel body, and drying, heat treating, and sintering the body to provide the germanium-doped silica glass.