Where to Buy Mid-infrared Fibers

LVF offers a large range of fluoride optical fibers, including ZrF₄ (fluorozirconate) and InF₃ (fluoroindate) fibers designed for mid infrared applications.

• ZrF₄ (fluorozirconate) fibers transmit light from 0.3 µm up to 4.5 µm.
• InF₃ (fluoroindate) fibers transmit light from 0.3 µm up to 5.5 µm.
• GeO₂ (germanate) fibers are qualified for high power handling around 2.7–3.0 µm (Er:YAG and Er:YSSG medical lasers).

LVF fluoride fibers are the most transparent fibers on the market in the mid-infrared 2–5 µm band.

Discover our passive fibers and active fibers.

Thorlabs has extensive, vertically integrated fluoride fiber manufacturing capabilities, including draw towers and splicing expertise. These capabilities are utilized to produce our PDFA series of praseodymium-doped fiber amplifiers as well as our SC4500 mid-IR supercontinuum laser system.

See us at CLEO 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, May 7–9 (booth 427)!

For the mid-IR spectral range, we produce

• chalcogenide As-S glass fibers (CIR),
• polycrystalline silver halide (PIR) fibers and
• hollow silica glass waveguides (HWG).

CIR fibers transmits infrared radiation in the spectral range of 1.1 μm – 6.5 μm. CIR- fibers with double polymer jacket provides a superior mechanical strength and high flexibility. Low optical losses ensure a successful use of CIR-fiber for a wide range of applications.

PIR fibers are transparent over a broad spectral range 3 μm – 17 μm. Low optical losses without absorption peaks over the mentioned spectral range ensure a successful use of PIR fiber for a broad range of applications.

The HWG design is a perfect option to transmit weakly divergent IR light in the mid IR range from 2 to 18 μm. High performance HWG are produced with double polymer jacket to secure a superior mechanical strength and high flexibility of HWGs.

Guiding Photonics produces hollow core fiber optics (i.e., waveguides) for mid-IR applications requiring remote laser beam delivery. Benefits include

• good transmission for λ = 2 – 16 µm
• single-mode options for λ ≥ 5 µm
• mode filtering of non-Gaussian beams
• high coupling efficiency (> 95%)
• high energy/power (up to 100 W CW)
• no end reflections
• no cladding modes
• robust and flexible