Experimental Measurements of Attenuation and Recovery within Single Mode Optical Fiber Cables under the Effects of Gamma Radiation

Abstract

Efficient transmission of data within optical fiber cables within radiation environments is a challenge. It leads to severe attenuations in the optical fiber cables. This issue is addressed in this manuscript. Experimental measurements are conducted in order to overcome the radiation influence on single mode optical fiber cables. Two experiments are implemented. The first one depends on 5 m single mode patch cords fiber cable. This cable is subjected to gamma radiation at different radiation doses of 5 kGy, 10 kGy, 15 kGy and 20 kGy with dose rate of 1.296 KGy/ hr. These doses are the maximum doses that the cable of fiber is exposed in normal conditions in our radiation environment. The second experiment uses 3 m single mode fiber cable with different jackets. In this experiment, the cable is degraded by gamma radiation of doses 5 kGy, 10 kGy, 15 kGy and 25 kGy and dose rate of 2.273 KGy/hr. The fiber cables are degraded through gamma 1 radiation facility within Egypt Mega gamma1 in National Center for Radiation Research and Technology of Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA). Then, the attenuation of these cables is measured in two different places in National Institute for Laser Science in Cairo University and Africa Teleco private company. The measurements are done using laser sources at spectral wavelengths of 1310 nm and 1550 nm. Hence, various readings of attenuations in dB are demonstrated. Attenuation recovery is of primary concern. It is executed within 36 days. The experimental results confirm the superiority of operation at 1550 nm over that of 1310 nm. The experimental measurements are performed before and after radiation degradation for comparison purposes. The recovered attenuation achieves better results comparable to results before degradations.