Assessment of Radiation-induced Losses in Fiber-optic Systems

Abstract

Experimental results of a study of the effect of ionizing radiation with different dose rates on fiber-optic systems using fibers with a germanosilicate core (GeO₂) and an undoped pure silica core (SiO₂) are presented. A mathematical approximation of the experimental curves for the growth of radiation-induced optical losses in the fiber is performed using a modified power-law equation that includes the contribution of the ionizing radiation dose rate. A correlation between the values of empirical coefficients and the dose rate of ionizing radiation is experimentally established. A natural logarithmic function equation is proposed for describing the dependence of the empirical coefficients defining the shape of the radiation-induced loss growth curve on the dose rate. An approach to reconstructing the radiation-induced loss growth curve using equations for the dependence of the empirical approximation coefficients on the dose rate is proposed; this technique enables predicting the radiation response of the optical fiber under new conditions without experimental setup. The method demonstrates applicability for single-mode fibers with silica and germanosilicate fiber cores of different designs. Based on the described approach, a methodology is developed for determining correlation equations for empirical coefficients.