Radiation-hardened fiber-based technologies

The Journal of Optics recently published a comprehensive review on the recent progress of radiation-hardened fiber-based technologies focusing on examples for space applications.

The first part of the review introduces the operational principles of the various fiber-based technologies considered for use in radiation environments: passive optical fibers for data links, diagnostics, active optical fibers for amplifiers and laser sources as well as the different classes of point and distributed fiber sensors: gyroscopes, Bragg gratings, Rayleigh, Raman or Brillouin-based distributed sensors.

The second part addresses the state-of-the-art regarding the knowledge of radiation effects on the performance of these devices, from the microscopic effects observed in the amorphous silica glass used to design fiber cores and cladding, to the macroscopic response of fiber-based devices and systems. The third part presents the recent advances regarding the hardening (improvement of the radiation tolerance) of these technologies acting on the material, device or system levels.

In conclusion the potential of fiber-based technologies for operation in radiation environments is demonstrated and the future challenges to be overcome in the coming years are presented.

First published by the iia in January 2019


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