Linear optical characterization of chalcogenide glasses

A simple experimental method is used to obtain the evolution of both the refractive index and the linear absorption coefficient as a function of the optical wavelength in the near infrared range (from 900 up to 1700 nm with 10 nm resolution). Several chalcogenide glasses (As₂S₃, As₂Se₃, GeSe₄) are tested and the corresponding Cauchy coefficients are determined. Comparison of our results shows a good agreement with values available in the literature at some wavelength. Application of this method is used to estimate Cauchy coefficients of Ge₁₀As₁₀Se₈₀ for the first time to our best knowledge.