Tellurite And Fluorotellurite Glasses For Active And Passive

1. Introduction; MDO 6
1.4. Thesis structure
A literature review (chapter 2) will follow this introductory section, outlining tellurite and
fluorotellurite glass research most relevant to the compositions studied here. Background
to glass formation, and optical loss mechanisms will also be discussed. Chapters 3 to 8,
inclusively, individually containing experimental, results, discussion, and summary
sections based on the work undertaken. Chapter 3 will detail the glass batching and
melting procedures used, with a tabulated list of all compositions studied. Chapter 4
looks at the characteristic temperatures of these glasses, obtained by differential thermal
analysis (DTA). Crystal structure of batch materials, products of melting, and devitrified
glasses were then examined, using X-ray diffraction (XRD), presented in chapter 5. The
infrared spectra and refractive indices of a number of compositions are then evaluated in
chapter 6, by FTIR- spectroscopy, and ellipsometry respectively. Chapter 7 shows some
of the surface properties of the tellurite and fluorotellurite glasses: X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS), chemical and environmental durability, and ion-exchange. Finally
chapter 8 presents the optical fibre drawing process, viscosity-temperature behaviour,
defects in the fibres, and fibre loss, measured by cut-back. The conclusions chapter (9)
summarises the main points from chapters 3 to 8 inclusive, and the thesis ends with future
work (chapter 10). References will be listed at the end of each chapter.