Optical fibers with various protective coatings were submerged in liquid nitrogen to 77°K then tested for mechanical and optical reliability. It was found that while all the fibers maintained strength after low-temperature exposure, the optical response varied depending on the protective coating. The optical attenuation observed for some fiber samples is due to axial shrinkage of the coating, which then leads to an elevated microbending loss. The behavior of the fiber coating at temperatures below the glass transition temperature is discussed.

Date Published: 27 April 2009
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 7316, Fiber Optic Sensors and Applications VI, 73160Z (27 April 2009); doi: 10.1117/12.817752

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7316:
Fiber Optic Sensors and Applications VI
Eric Udd; Henry H. Du; Anbo Wang, Editor(s)