Temperature Dependence of Radiation-Induced Attenuation of a Fluorine-Doped Single-Mode Optical Fiber at Infrared Wavelengths

Harsh environments can combine radiations and extreme temperature constraints, which can both degrade the optical performances of silica-based optical fibers (OFs). Among the different types of OFs, the ones having a core in pure-silica or doped with fluorine are known to present, generally, the lowest steady-state radiation-induced attenuation (RIA) to high cumulated doses (
$>$
10 kGy) at room temperature. In this work, we investigate how the RIA levels and kinetics of a radiation-hardened F-doped single-mode OF depend on the irradiation temperature. To achieve this, we performed a systematic study on the combined temperature (from −80 °C to 80 °C) and steady-state X-ray radiation (up to 100 kGy) effects on an F-doped single-mode fiber with a high-temperature acrylate coating in the infrared (IR) domain. We then discuss the basic mechanisms at the origin of the RIA and its temperature dependence.