Practical barrier to hydrogen diffusion into optical fibres

The diffusion of hydrogen (at 65 atm) into optical fibres coated with silicon oxynitride is found to be several orders of magnitude lower than that for uncoated fibres. Extrapolation of the data using a diffusion model predicts that such coatings should provide a practical and effective barrier against lower hydrogen pressures over system lifetimes. Thus all hydrogen-related optical ageing effects are significantly reduced.