Neutron- and Gamma-Induced Transient Effects in Optical Fibers

Abstract

Both luminescence and absorption are observed when optical fibers are exposed to ionizing radiation. Potential applications of optical fibers include data transmissions in the presence of radiation and an understanding of radiation effects on fibers is therefore critical. Many previous investigations^1–6 have studied transient radiation effects using pulsed electron and x-ray beams and long term effects using x-ray, gamma, electron, and neutron sources. However, no data for neutron-induced transient phenomena have been obtained to date. Since neutron bombardment will result in atomic displacement to a greater extent than electron sources, it is not a priori evident that neutron and electron absorption effects are similar. Furthermore, since luminescence has been shown to be mainly of Cerenkov origin, 6 neutron induced luminescence should be significantly less, on an absorbed dose basis, than electron induced luminescence. The experimental data presented herein are the first neutron-induced

Work performed under auspices of U. S.D. O. E.