Radiation-induced attenuation effect in hydroxyl-rich pure-silica-core photonic crystal fiber

In order to evaluate the vulnerability of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) in radiation environment, radiation-induced attenuation (RIA) characteristics of a pure-silica-core PCF with high content of hydroxyl was examined using a 60Co radiation source. Its dose dependent RIA profile at 1310 nm was measured and compared with Ge-doped single mode fiber (SMF). Beyond our expectation, PCF showed significantly higher RIA and its recovery was also slower. To interpret the non-ideal RIA characteristics of PCF, hypotheses involving nonbridging oxygen hole centers (NBOHC) or near-infrared absorption (NIR) defect were given and the contribution of PCF's unique fabrication technology to these color centers’ high infrared absorption was discussed.