Mechanical reliability studies of optical fibres under high-dose gamma radiation

Marco Van Uffelen, Yehia El Shazly, Stephen Kukureka, Gerard Kuyt, Elise Regnier, Piet Matthijsse, Francis Berghmans, Andrei Goussarov

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    In addition to the numerous assessments presented in literature of the radiation-induced optical property changes in optical fibres, we investigate the impact of MGy dose levels on the mechanical properties of different single and multimode fibres. We compare the tensile test and two-point bending test results obtained by two different laboratories with commercially available optical fibres before and after irradiation up to 15 MGy. Our results show a significant strength reduction of about 50% at high dose levels, relevant for particular applications in nuclear power facilities and in large nuclear physics experiments. This strength reduction seems to depend on both the coating materials and the test conditions, as suggested by the roughening of the outer glass surface of the optical fibre, observed with atomic force microscope (AFM) images.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE: Photonics Europe 2006: Optoelectronics and Photonic Materials
    Place of PublicationBellingham, Washington, United States
    Pages1-9
    Volume6193
    StatePublished - Apr 2006
    EventPhotonics Europe - IEEE, Strasbourg
    Duration: 3 Apr 20067 Apr 2006

    Conference

    ConferencePhotonics Europe
    Country/TerritoryFrance
    CityStrasbourg
    Period2006-04-032006-04-07

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