Metal Coated Fibers for Use in the Radiation Environment

Optical fibers are being considered for uses where they will be subjected to high radiation fields and elevated temperatures simultaneously. This paper describes a fiber which is aluminum jacketed, and may hence be heated to 550°C. When heated to 550°C and subjected to 30 Krads of gamma rays from 60Co, the fiber sustained 1/10 the normal room temperature damage. Thermolumnescence testing and spectral absorption studies indicate that even at 550°C there are many deep lying traps still present in the silica which serve as signal absorption centers.