OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF SOL-GEL DERIVED SB-DOPED SILICA GLASS

The sol-gel preparation of Sb-doped silica glass with high refractive index was investigated. A base-catalyzed low density gel rod with dopa nt content up to 15 mol% was prepared. Sintering resulted in an OH-fre e Sb-doped silica glass rod with a maximum specific refractive index o f 3.17% with reference to pure silica. Above 5 mol% the refractive ind ex was radially graded with a maximum at the center. Optical fiber fab ricated from the 5 mol% Sb-doped silica as a core exhibited optical lo ss of about 700 dB/km at 0.6 mu m. The loss may be attributed to color ation due to multivalent Sb. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science B. V.