Radiation sensitivity of passive fibre optic components

We have measured radiation-induced losses of all kinds of optical fibres as well as of different kinds of connectors, couplers, and multiplexers. Fibre irradiations were performed at 60Co sources with dose rates ranging from LE 1 Gy/d up to about 10E5 Gy/d and temperatures between -195 degree C and +100 degree C, as well as at a flash X-ray facility. We present typical results for all test objects. 60Co irradiations up to 10E6 Gy within about one week showed that there exist high bandwidth graded index and single mode fibres with induced losses of only about 5 dB in lengths of 50 m that are typical, e.g., for satellites or nuclear power plants. Pure silica core fibres with high OH content can even show less than 0.5 dB under the same conditions.