Fluoride glass-based optical fibers

Starting with fiber optic communication, the original application of fluoride fibers and the efforts to obtain low-loss fibers are described, including the development of fluoride glass materials, advances in glass melting techniques, and improvements in fabrication techniques of fiber preforms and fibers. Then, it is followed by a description of applications of the existing fluoride fibers, such as fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers, supercontinuum sources, and sensors. Finally, a summary of fluoride fiber applications is presented, and an outlook is given on obtaining low-loss fluoride fibers.