UV resistant optical fiber
Fiberguide Industries
Solarization is a change in material characteristics due to illumination with ultraviolet ("solar") light. High intensities of UV illumination can cause photo-thermal damage in silica optical fibers, significantly increasing attenuation. Prolonged UV radiation, 190nm to 230nm, solarizes untreated fiber, reducing their UV transmittance significantly. The Fiberguide SolarguideTM series of fibers are perfect for long-life deep UV Spectroscopy, Lithography, Excimer laser delivery systems and for use with deuterium lamps and an extensive range of UV laser sources below 230nm.
Most spectroscopic applications using optical fibers have been constrained to wavelength ranges above 230nm, since standard silica fibers with an undoped core and fluorine doped cladding are continually damaged by exposure to deep UV light. This Solarization effect is induced by the formation of "color centers" with an absorbance band of 214nm. These color centers are formed when impurities such as CI exist in the fiber core which is affected by deep UV radiation.
This advanced fiber manufacturing technology is made possible with recent availability of a prefabricated multimode, fused silica preform using the Plasma Outside Deposition ("POD") process, which facilitates the creation of highly fluorine doped cladding with a depressed index compared to fused silica and hydrogen loaded proving stability in the deep UV with a slightly increased attenuation and long term stability.
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