Optical fibers in radiation environments

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5857532

Miller, D W; Holcomb, D E; Shao, H; Talnagi, J W; Hatch, J M ^[1]

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1. Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States). Nuclear Engineering Program

Fiber optic cables are being used extensively in telecommunications and other non-nuclear power applications. These cables have several inherent features that make them ideal for replacing existing conventional cabling, particularly in nuclear plant applications. However, fiber optic cables are sensitive to radiation. Radiation causes color center formation in the fibers that affect the light transmission characteristics. The physics of radiation damage to fibers was not well understood. Also, there has not been dose or does rate sensitivity studies performed at nuclear plant radiation levels. These studies were necessary to determine if existing radiation hardened fiber optics cables can be used in nuclear power plants for reasonable periods of time (eg, several years). The results of this provided: better understanding of the physics of radiation damage to fibers, sensitivity of existing radiation hardened fibers to radiation dose and dose rate, initial understanding of radiation effects on fibers as a function of fiber impurities and fiber dopants, identification of areas for further research, particularly radiation sensitivity of other fiber optic components.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States). Nuclear Engineering Program
• Sponsoring Organization: EPRI; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5857532
• Report Number(s): EPRI-TR-100367
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
FIBER OPTICS
FIBERS
HEATING
IMPURITIES
LIGHT SCATTERING
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
OPTICAL FIBERS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
POWER PLANTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION HEATING
SCATTERING
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS