2024 | Explore ArmD® UV-SRC Solarization-Resistant Fibers
Solarization-resistant fibers are a class of specialty fibers resistant to UV radiation. They may also be described as radiation-hardened or radiation-tolerant. Though there are many methods of enhancing radiation resistance, two proven methods include using hydrogen saturation or treating the environment with Deuterium. Incorporating hydrogen loading, alongside a coating of carbon, to prevent the hydrogen from breaking away, can also be used with silica core fibers to increase their radiation hardness, as shown within the study by Andreenko et al.¹ Moreover, deciding upon a category of fiber, one of which can withstand radiation, can be achieved through an in-situ gamma radiation test, which was demonstrated through the examination of the fiber optics selection used in H-alpha diagnostics.²
Deep ultraviolet (DUV) photonics face unique challenges relating to radiation exposure. The DUV band (200-280 nm) includes the UVC band, which has photon energies of 4.4-6.2 eV. This can cause various issues, such as radiation-induced attenuation (RIA), radiation-induced luminescence, and alterations in refractive indices. RIA can lead to increased propagation losses and is typically the primary fiber degradation mechanism in such applications. However, each mechanism causes distinct problems that can create overall performance losses. Solarization-resistant fibers, designed to withstand degradation associated with UV exposure, are thus ideal for such high-energy applications.
We, Armadillo, excel in developing specialty fiber solutions, such as our ArmD® UV-SRC. The properties of our non-circular core silica optical fibers include:
- Being H2 loaded and containing a carbon hermetic seal to stop H2 from leaving the fused silica
- Availability in a range of standard numerical apertures (NA) from 0.12 to 0.30, with negligible NA expansion. Custom NA options are available if needed.
- Core diameters from 90 µm to 1500 µm.
- High OH content (>700 ppm)
Applications of solarization-resistant ArmD® UV-SRC fibers include:
- Laser delivery systems
- Medical diagnostics
- Medical technology
- Spectroscopy.
If you require solutions for DUV applications, Armadillo can help. We are entirely vertically integrated and consider ourselves the world leaders in silica and glass optical fibers. Our expertise spans assemblies, bundles, and hybrid photonics solutions. Each of our systems is developed in-house at our GMP and ISO 9001-compliant facility, from preform manufacturing to finished cables. Our fully integrated approach allows us to meet your individual needs effectively. We also pride ourselves on being able to offer the most competitive pricing in the industry without ever compromising on customer service.
Contact us today for more technical details about our solarization-resistant ArmD® UV-SRC fibers, or refer to our technical datasheet. There, you will learn more about specific attenuation values relative to wavelengths and find a comparison of solarization resistance that puts the value of our ArmD® UV-SRC fibers into context.
Reference
- Andreenko E.N, Gusarova A, Orlovskiyb I.I, Vukolovb K.Y. Radiation induced absorption of hydrogen-loaded pure silica optical fibers with carbon coating for ITER diagnostics. Fusion Engineering and Design. 2020;151:11356. doi:10.1016/j.fusengdes.2019.111356.
- Andreenko E.N. Orlovskiya I.I, Shikalov V.F, Vukolova K.Yu. Irradiation test of fiber optics for H-alpha diagnostics in ITER. Fusion Engineering and Design. 2019;146. doi: 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2019.01.082.
