Design considerations for optical systems in ionizing and nonionizing radiation environments

Author

Kalavagunta, Aditya ; Schrimpf, Ron ; Neifeld, Mark

Author_Institution

Electr. Eng. Dept., Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN, USA

Volume

51

Issue

6

fYear

2004

Firstpage

3595

Lastpage

3602

Abstract

We discuss the design considerations for optical systems subject to radiation damage. The impact of radiation on individual components is summarized; for example, the laser diode experiences shifts in threshold current and shifts in output wavelength. This and other knowledge about damage to active and passive components is used to study the system-level impact of radiation damage on candidate optical components and systems. Three examples are studied: a 5-km wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) network, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer multiplexer (MZI), and a bulk grating demultiplexer (BGD). The MZI and BGD suffer minor attenuation losses due to irradiation, but their extreme sensitivity to the input wavelength can cause complete signal loss.

Keywords

demultiplexing equipment; diffraction gratings; ion beam effects; multiplexing equipment; optical design techniques; optical elements; optical links; semiconductor lasers; Mach-Zehnder interferometer multiplexer; active components; bulk grating demultiplexer; complete signal loss; design considerations; extreme sensitivity; input wavelength; ionizing radiation environment; laser diode; minor attenuation losses; nonionizing radiation environment; optical components; optical link; optical systems; output wavelength; passive components; radiation damage; radiation impact; system-level impact; threshold current; wavelength division multiplexed network; wavelength shift; Diode lasers; Ionizing radiation; Optical attenuators; Optical design; Optical devices; Optical interferometry; Optical losses; Optical sensors; Threshold current; Wavelength division multiplexing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2004.839163

Filename

1369530