Investigation of fiberoptic behaviour during gamma irradiation

Radiation induced effects in glass-rods and fiberoptics have been studied to determine parameters affecting the application of these materials in endoscopes operating in severe radiation environments such as the core of a nuclear power plant or the spent fuel element storage pool. Different glass and fiber types have been investigated and various transmission properties were found. The samples were irradiated in the thermal column of the TRIGA Mark II reactor, Vienna. The radiation induced transmission loss was measured approximately 1 hour after the reactor shutdown. Saturation effects in the transmission loss were observed and changes in glass and fiber recovery vs time as a function of radiation dose and photo-bleaching methods were studied. Photo-bleaching was investigated with a quartz lamp, an arc lamp and an UV-laser light. (author)