In situ measurement of refractive index changes induced by gamma radiation in germanosilicate fibers

Author

Fernandez, A. Fernandez ; Brichard, B. ; Berghmans, F.

Author_Institution

Belgian Nucl. Res. Center, Mol, Belgium

Volume

15

Issue

10

fYear

2003

Firstpage

1428

Lastpage

1430

Abstract

We propose a technique to measure in situ the refractive index changes induced by ionizing radiation in single-mode optical fibers. This change can be derived from the channel drift appearing in narrow channel wavelength-division-multiplexing couplers exposed to gamma radiation. We measured a radiation-induced refractive index change of about 5 10/sup -6//kGy[H/sub 2/O] at low doses and 5 10/sup -7//kGy[H/sub 2/O] at higher doses. No saturation was observed up to a total gamma dose of 13 MGy.

Keywords

gamma-ray effects; optical fibre couplers; optical fibre testing; refractive index measurement; wavelength division multiplexing; 13 MGy; channel drift; gamma radiation; germanosilicate fibers; in situ measurement; ionizing radiation; low doses; narrow channel wavelength-division-multiplexing couplers; radiation-induced refractive index change; refractive index changes; refractometry; single-mode optical fibers; total gamma dose; Gamma rays; Glass; Ionizing radiation; Optical attenuators; Optical fiber couplers; Optical fibers; Optical refraction; Performance evaluation; Refractive index; Wavelength measurement;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2003.818247

Filename

1232980