NEW GERMANIUM SULFIDE-BASED GLASSES

A new class of sulfide glasses has been discovered in the GeS2-BaS-ZnS system. They are prepared in sealed silica tube conditions by heating at temperatures above 1000 degrees C. The most stable glass-forming c ompositions are located in the middle of the diagram close to the rati o 33.3GeS(2)-33.3BaS-33.3 ZnS. Thermal and optical characteristics hav e been conducted in order to qualify this new vitreous matrix as an op tical host for rare earth spectroscopy.