Abstract

Measurements of the radiation-induced optical attenuation at 1.3 μm and the induced absorption spectra (0.4–1.7 μm) of state-of-the-art pure synthetic silica and doped silica core optical fiber waveguides have been undertaken to characterize their radiation response at long wavelengths. It has been observed that radiation-induced absorption bands at long wavelengths can give rise to substantial induced losses at both 1.3 and 1.55 μm in some fibers, especially those doped with P or B; the ratio of the damage at 1.3 and 1.55 μm to that at 0.82 μm in these fibers has been found to be only ~0.29 and 0.71, respectively. In contrast, pure fused silica and binary Ge-doped silica core fibers have shown the greatest hardness at long wavelengths. Suggestions have been made for the optimum wavelengths and preferred fiber compositions to minimize the effects of nuclear radiation in fiber-optic communications systems operating at long wavelengths.

© 1982 Optical Society of America

Compositional effects on the radiation response of Ge-doped silica-core optical fiber waveguides

E. J. Friebele, P. C. Schultz, and M. E. Gingerich
Appl. Opt. 19(17) 2910-2916 (1980)

Radiation damage in single-mode optical-fiber waveguides

E. J. Friebele, K. J. Long, and M. E. Gingerich
Appl. Opt. 22(11) 1754-1757 (1983)

Photobleaching effects in optical fiber waveguides

E. J. Friebele and M. E. Gingerich
Appl. Opt. 20(19) 3448-3452 (1981)

Effect of low dose rate irradiation on doped silica core optical fibers

E. Joseph Friebele, Charles G. Askins, and Michael E. Gingerich
Appl. Opt. 23(23) 4202-4208 (1984)

Radiation-induced attenuation in polarization maintaining fibers: low dose rate response, stress, and materials effects

E. Joseph Friebele, Louise A. Brambani, Michael E. Gingerich, Steven J. Hickey, and James R. Onstott
Appl. Opt. 28(23) 5138-5143 (1989)