Recent progress in mid-infrared chalcogenide fiber combiners

The chalcogenide fiber combiner is a specialized optical device designed for the mid-infrared band. Its primary function is to merge optical signals from multiple fibers into a single output fiber efficiently. It allows high-efficiency combination of multiple laser beams to produce high-power or broadband mid-infrared sources, offering promising applications in infrared countermeasures, industrial processing, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnostics. This review first outlines the core concepts and design principles of chalcogenide fiber combiners. Subsequently, based on the operating wavelength bands, it highlights the current research status of mid-wave infrared and long-wave infrared chalcogenide fiber combiners, with particular emphasis on the challenges encountered in the long-wave infrared band and the recent research progress made by our team. Additionally, this review identifies the key challenges facing current research efforts and explores potential future trends in this domain, aiming to provide a valuable reference for further studies in the field.