Gd-doped silica fiber fabricated using surface plasmachemical deposition with view to radiation sensor applications

Abstract

A Gd3+-doped-silica optical fiber free of other codopants in the core was fabricated with the help of surface plasma chemical vapor deposition (SPCVD) for the first time. The SPCVD-process parameters are described as well as the fiber properties in the as-drawn state (absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra upon excimer-laser excitation at λ = 276 and 193 nm and PL decay kinetics) and during γ-irradiation at 1–3.5 Gy/s up to 0.5–1.4 kGy (radiation-induced absorption (RIA) and radioluminescence (RL)). The 315-nm RL band is argued to be suitable for real time dose-rate monitoring, although RIA and persistent luminescence can influence the RL intensity. The possibility to suppress RIA on completion of irradiation by thermal annealing at 500 °C during 15 min was demonstrated.