2004-10-14 : The 1st single-mode PIR-fiber for 4-18µm

The very 1st samples of single-mode Polycrystalline InfraRed (PIR) fibers have been fabricated by A.R.T. Photonics for 4-18µm range in result of successful collaboration with Astrium (EADS) and Technical University of Vienna in 2 year Project of ESA Darwin Program.
The singlemode IR-fibers development was requested by the European Space Agency (ESA) for its DARWIN program which is searching for extraterrestrial life and Earth-like planets. The idea is to use satellites to collect mid-infrared radiation from space that corresponds to an Earth-like temperature of around 300 K and to analyse it for presence of atmospheric gases. In order to make the project feasible it is important to filter out strong star light that corresponds to a much higher temperature of around 6000 K. The answer is to equip the satellite with an interferometer featuring an optical wavefront filter based on singlemode IR-fiber.
See more details at 1st_Single-Mode_PIR-Fiber_for_4-18microns.pdf