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Title: NSEP (National Security/Emergency Preparedness) fiber-optics system study, background report: nuclear effects on fiber-optic transmission systems

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5383706

The National Communications System (NCS) is responsible for defining reasonable enhancements that could be applied to commercial common carrier (or carriers'- carrier) fiber-optic systems that will be leased or owned by government agencies and which may be used for National Security/Emergency Preparedness (NSEP) purposes. This report provides background excerpted from many references used in the development of a multitier specification that identifies five levels of enhancement. (The multitier specification is presented in a separate report.) The report describes the nuclear environment for surface and in-atmosphere bursts outside of the blast region, where buildings and personnel would be expected to survive. In the environment, the vulnerability of optical fiber waveguides to fallout radiation is a primary concern. An assessment of fiber darkening, based on a review of unclassified literature, is presented. For exo-atmospheric nuclear bursts, the fiber optic system is exposed to High Altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) radiation. Unclassified levels of these nuclear effects have been obtained from published literature. The characteristics of future generations of optical-fiber systems, as described in current literature, are outlined.

Research Organization:
Department of Commerce, Boulder, CO (USA). Inst. for Telecommunication Sciences
OSTI ID:
5383706
Report Number(s):
PB-88-157961/XAB; NTIA-87-227
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English