Measurements of the optical and thermal properties of Bi2O3–SiO2 glass producing fibers with zero photoelasticity

Abstract In this study, xBi2O3−(100−x)SiO2 glass samples were prepared and evaluated in order to develop preform glasses suitable for the fabrication of fiber cores with a small photoelastic constant (PEC) for opto-magnetic fiber sensors. Compositions exhibiting small PECs were determined, while the stability, and refractive index and Verdet constant dispersions of the optimal formulations were established. The fiber-drawing temperature and isothermal heating time without crystal precipitation were also determined using experimental time–temperature transition measurements. By matching the refractive indices of the core and cladding materials, detailed core and cladding compositions for a fiber enabling single-mode waveguide transmission were proposed.