Synthesis of a highly dense air-filled tellurite-air glass transversely disordered optical fiber.

• This work demonstrates how to synthesize a highly air-filled (∼33%), tellurite glass-air Transversely Disordered Optical Fiber (TDOF). • 1.55µm laser light was guided through the 15cm length of the fiber. The beam is localized at specific parts of the TDOF. • Simulations were made using the cross-section image of the fiber to understand the difference in localization of the beam. Tellurite glasses, known for their high viscosity changes in a narrow temperature range, make fiber drawing of tellurite glass-air difficult. This work demonstrates how to synthesize a highly air-filled (∼33%), with controlled air-hole sizes, tellurite glass-air Transversely Disordered Optical Fiber (TDOF). 1.55 µm laser light was guided through 15 cm length of the obtained TDOF, and the obtained beam pattern showed a high localization at a specific part of the TDOF while not being localized at another part of the same fiber. Beam propagation simulations were made using the cross-section image of the obtained fiber as the waveguide media. The results highlighted that the beam stays localized when the surroundings are highly air-hole filled and even more so when the surrounding air-hole size is larger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]