New inorganic glasses for optical waveguides

Recent advances in lightwave technology, including optical fibres, optical amplifiers, optical couplers and a variety of non-linear optical effects and devices, have created the need for a new range of glass materials. These glasses may themselves have properties tailored for the application or may play the role of host for an active guest species. In this review, the types of glass systems currently being developed will be reviewed with a focus on the different properties offered by different chemical makeup. Specific examples will include recent work on Heavy Metal Fluorides and Heavy Metal Oxides.