Radiation-resistant fibres

On a microscopic level, ionising radiation damages the molecular structure of glass fibres. As a result, the glass bleaches and the macroscopic fibre loss is increased. This effect is particularly strong in active fibres, since the commonly applied co-dopants such as phosphor significantly degrade the radiation resistance. Consequently, todays fibres and fibre lasers are not viable for applications in space such as optical inter-satellite communication. This is a significant problem in the context of what is known as "new space". New space stands for the rise of commercial space companies for which the economic value is of utter importance. Different promising concepts will be investigated by us to enhance the radiation hardness of active fibres, in particular by using novel co-doping concepts in combination with adequate characterisation schemes.