Mechanisms of Radiation Damage Generated by Ionizing Radiation in Optical Waveguides

Radiation damage generated by ionizing radiation (UV- and gamma- radiation) was studied in a variety of optical preforms and fiber-optic waveguides. The materials investigated included germanium-doped silica preforms and fibers, fluorine-doped silica, and heavy metal fluoride glass. Radiation damage and aging effects in bulk and fiber were also investigated. Electron paramagnetic resonance and optical spectroscopies were used to study the centers generated by the ionizing radiation. A parallel study of the intrinsic bonding defects in SiO2 films grown by a variety of techniques was also carried out.