Radiation-resistance technology for broadband fiber-optic source

The effect of gamma ray radiation on the performance of a compact Er-doped super-fluorescent fiber source was investigated experimentally. It was found that the output power and spectrum of the source vary significantly with radiation dosage and probably the induced background loss for the pump would play a significant role in the observed variations. A double-pass backward source configuration with an output edge filter was implemented experimentally, and with proper feedback control pump driving circuitry, such a configuration demonstrated good resistance to gamma ray radiation.