High index-contrast fiber waveguides and applications

A fiber waveguide having a waveguide axis, comprising:

• a core extending along the waveguide axis;
• and
• a confinement region surrounding the core about the waveguide axis and comprising a chalcogenide glass, the confinement region further comprising a photonic crystal structure having a photonic band gap, wherein during operation the confinement region guides EM radiation in at least a first range of frequencies to propagate along the waveguide axis,
• wherein the fiber waveguide is a photonic crystal fiber.

A method for making photonic crystal fiber waveguide, comprising:

• providing a fiber preform comprising a first portion and a second portion surrounding the first portion, wherein the first portion comprises a chalcogenide glass;
• heating the fiber preform such that the first and second portions have a viscosity between 103 Poise and 106 Poise;
• and
• drawing the heated fiber preform to make the photonic crystal fiber waveguide.

A fiber waveguide having a waveguide axis, comprising:

• a first portion extending along the waveguide axis comprising a chalcogenide glass selected from the group consisting of Selenium chalcogenide glasses and Tellurium chalcogenide glasses;
• and
• a second portion different from the first portion extending along the waveguide axis surrounding the first portion, the second portion comprising a non-chalcogenide glass;
• wherein both the first and second portions have a viscosity greater than 103 Poise at some temperature, T, and the fiber waveguide is a photonic crystal fiber.