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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
The sources of scattering losses in fluorozirconate glasses and fibers are reviewed. Results are presented which show that the predominant mechanism responsible for the presence of fluoride crystals is heterogeneous nucleation. The nature and origin of the different nuclei are discussed and possible ways to eliminate them from the glasses assessed. It is proposed that extreme care be employed in the processing of the glasses with particular emphasis on the preform fabrication step as this is critical to the design of ultra-low loss fibers.