Radiation-hard erbium optical fiber and fiber amplifier for both low- and high-dose space missions

We present a new structure for erbium-doped optical fibers [hole-assisted carbon-coated, (HACC)] that, combined with an appropriate choice of codopants in the core, strongly enhances their radiation tolerance. We built an erbium-doped fiber amplifier based on this HACC fiber and characterize its degradation under gamma-ray doses up to 315 krad (SiO2) in the ON mode. The 31 dB amplifier is practically radiation insensitive, with a gain change of merely -2.2 x 10(-3) dB/krad. These performances authorize the use of HACC doped fibers and amplifiers for various applications in environments associated with today's missions (of doses up to 50 krad) and even for future space missions associated with higher dose constraints. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America