Polarization properties of multichannel optical fibers for the infrared range

An experimental investigation was made of guiding channels in optical waveguides made of glassy chalcogenide semiconductors. The results were used to propose a multichannel optical fiber system for the infrared range in which polarization of the transmitted radiation would be conserved. It was found to be possible to construct guiding channels with different values of the birefringence and their potential applications were considered.