Fabrication tolerances in As₂S₃ negative-curvature antiresonant fibers

We computationally investigate fabrication tolerances in As₂S₃ negative-curvature antiresonant tube-lattice fibers. Since the dominant loss mechanisms for silica in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) is material absorption, As₂S₃, which offers a reduced loss over that wavelength range, is a natural candidate for mid-IR antiresonant fibers. However, any fiber fabrication technology, including for soft glasses, will have imperfections. Therefore, it is important to know how imperfect fabrication will affect the results of a fiber design. We study perturbations to the fiber, including a nonconstant tube-wall thickness, a single cladding tube with a different radius, a single cladding tube with a different tube-wall thickness, and "key" sections in the jacket.