Influence of a light-reflecting polymer cladding on the optical losses in glassy chalcogenide waveguides

An investigation was made of the influence of a light-reflecting polymer cladding (made of a fluoroplastic F-42) on the optical losses in fiber waveguides made of chalcogenide glasses belonging to the As–Se, Ge–As–Se, and Ge–As–S systems. Deposition of a light-reflecting polymer cladding on fibers 300–500μ in diameter increased the optical losses in the wavelength range 2–7μ by 0.2–0.8 dB/m and by more than 2 dB/m in the range 7–12μ.