Radiation effects of 14 MeV neutrons on germanosilicate and phosphorus-doped multimode optical fibers

We report the radiation-induced effects of 14 MeV neutrons on the transmission properties (300-900 nm) of germanosilicate (Ge) and phosphorus (P)-doped multimode optical fibers. We showed that all optical fibers, especially those containing P in their core or cladding, exhibit strong radiation-induced attenuation levels. Our results suggest that phosphorus-oxygen-hole centers govern the radiative response of P-codoped fibers in the visible to near-infrared range. Germanosilicate P-free fibers exhibit an induced attenuation decreasing from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared wavelengths that can be associated with GeX, Ge(1) and Ge-NBOH centers. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.