We compare the penetration rate of water in sapphire and silica optical fibers at elevated temperature and pressure, which are usually the conditions in harsh environment sensing applications. The water penetration rate is studied by measuring the transmission attenuation rate at 1390 nm for both fibers. The experimental result shows sapphire fiber is much more water-resistant in such an environment compared to silica fiber, which suggests that it is a strong candidate for harsh environment fiber sensing.

Date Published: 1 June 2004
PDF: 2 pages
Opt. Eng. 43(6) doi: 10.1117/1.1738433
Published in: Optical Engineering Volume 43, Issue 6