Calculation of scattering and other parameters for ultra low loss optical fibers.

The search for improved glasses for optical fibers with a potential for losses lower than those of fused silica-based composition could be expedited if the relevant optical parameters could be calculated. This is particularly important for the magnitude and wavelength of the minimum in the loss curve, since these values have been experimentally established only for fused silica. Details are given of a way of estimating such data.