Optical fibers are currently under consideration for use in spacecraft systems as an essential component of fiber optic gyroscopes and rotation sensors. The fibers which are utilized in fiber gyros and sensors are polarization maintaining. Many of these spacecraft systems will encounter radiation levels reaching the 75 kilorad level over the mission life. In addition, temperatures may range from -30 to +65 degrees Centigrade during the spacecraft's operation. This paper investigates the radiation effects on a new type of polarization maintaining fiber over the operational temperature range and up to a total dose of 75 kilorads. Comparisons are made between previous fiber test results and the Andrew ECore fiber test results. Results indicate that fiber gyros utilizing the ECore fiber will survive the long term radiation environment in space.

Date Published: 25 February 1993
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 1791, Optical Materials Reliability and Testing: Benign and Adverse Environments, (25 February 1993); doi: 10.1117/12.141178

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1791:
Optical Materials Reliability and Testing: Benign and Adverse Environments
Roger A. Greenwell; Dilip K. Paul, Editor(s)