Radiation effects on ytterbium-doped optical fibers

Assuming on-board satellite high-bandwidth communications will utilize passive optical fibers as a communication channel, this work focused on the impact of gamma and mixed gamma/neutron radiation on transmission through single-mode and multi-mode ytterbium-doped single-mode fibers operated as amplifiers for a 1060-nm light source. Standard optical patch cables were evaluated along with active ytterbium -doped double-clad fibers in the same radiation environment. Exposure times and signal transmission wavelength variations were used to investigate the degradation of the fibers exposed to total doses above 100 krad(Si). Further, the effect on the amplified signal gain was studied for the ytterbium -doped fibers. The increased attenuation in the fibers across a broad wavelength range in response to multiple levels of gamma radiation exposure, along with the effect that increased attenuation has on the actively pumped ytterbium -doped fiber amplifier performance was evaluated.;Ytterbium-doped optical fibers demonstrate sensitivity to gamma and mixed neutron/gamma radiation exposures that is independent of the operational configuration of the fiber during irradiation. No identifiable dose rate damage production mechanism was encountered. However, fiber damage recovery following irradiation was found to be dependent on the radiation dose rate.