The paper presents the first complex study of Gamma radiation effects on a low-loss perfluorinated polymer optical fiber (PF-POF) based on Cytop® polymer. Influence of gamma radiation on fiber’s optical, mechanical and climatic performance is investigated. The radiation-induced attenuation (RIA) in the visible and near-infrared region (0.4 μm-1.7 mm) is measured and its origins are discussed. Besides attenuation increase, radiation is also shown to decrease the thermal degradation stability of the fiber and to increase its susceptibility to water. With regard to complex fiber transmission performance upon irradiation, the optimal operation wavelength region of PF-POF-based systems intended for use in Radiation environments is determined to be around 1.1 μm. On the other hand, the investigated fiber holds potential for low-cost RIA-based optical fiber dosimetry applications with sensitivity as high as 260 dBm⁻¹/kGy in the visible region.
Gamma radiation induced effects in perfluorinated polymer optical fibers for sensing applications
(2015)
Radiation induced attenuation in perfluorinated polymer optical fiber was investigated as a potential mean for online. in situ gamma radiation monitoring. Spectral dependence of radiation induced attenuation was measured in the visible and near infrared range. Attenuation spectrum exhibits sharp increase both towards the ultraviolet and infrared side of the spectrum with 3 distinct peaks around 1400 nm. The fiber sensitivity to gamma radiation was further evaluated at two commonly used IR wavelengths (1310nm and l550nm} by pre- and post-irradiation optical time-domain reflectometry measurements. The examined fiber is sensitive up to lOO kGy of total absorbed dose with only minor saturation towards the large dose values. The influence of gamma radiation on the fiber mechanical properties was studied as well. Up to the maximal dose of 100 kGy, no significant deterioration of fiber strength and elasticity was observed.
Impact of gamma radiation on transmission of a commercial Cytop polymer optical fibre (Lucina, Asahi Glass Company) is investigated. Spectral dependence of radiation induced attenuation in the investigated fibre is measured in the VIS-NIR spectral region. Besides attenuation increase, radiation is found to increase fibre susceptibility to water as well. While pristine Cytop fibre is rather humidity insensitive, strong humidity related absorption in the NIR region is observed after fibre irradiation. Selective irradiation of separate fibre sections is proposed as a way of fibre humidity sensitization and quasi-distributed water detection is demonstrated using optical time domain reflectometry at 1310 nm.