Measurement of Radiation Effects on Active and Passive Optical Fiber Components

− The present contribution is focused on the measurement of the degradation induced in the case of two splitters and two attenuators used in optical fiber communication systems, under gamma and neutron irradiation. The measurements were carried out at specific wavelengths (λ = 1310 nm and λ = 1550 nm) or over a spectral band (λ = 1510 – 1620 nm), in order to evaluate the wavelength dependence of the phenomena. These components were also tested as it concerns the changes of the polarization state of optical radiation they guide. A second investigation was performed on the degradation of the operational parameters for a laser diode driving circuit and a Peltier TEC (thermoelectric cooler), under gammaray, neutron and electron beam irradiation. No significant changes were noticed in the spectral transmission of the two passive components, but the degradation of the light polarization parameters was a significant one under gammaray irradiation. In the case of the laser diode drivers a drop of 80 % of the laser diode optical power and the embedded photodiode responsivity was observed under gamma-ray and neutron irradiation.