Self refractive non-linearities in chalcogenide based glasses

Abstract We report third order non-linear absorption and refraction measurements at 1.20 and 1.52 μm on selected gallium–Lanthanum sulfide-based glasses (Ga:La:S) showing negligible non-linear absorption and a refractive non-linearity close to one hundred times that of SiO 2 . Their potential use in telecommunication as base materials for all-optical switching practical devices is evaluated resulting in large figures of merit. The addition of a glass modifier to the Ga:La:S matrix has improved thermal and optical properties, resulting in ease of fibre drawing. The non-linear optical response of this new variant of the Ga:La:S family is studied.