Abstract

We placed silica optical fibers into hydrogen environments of up to 30,000 psi (2,041 atm) and characterized their photosensitivity, mechanical strength, and H₂ diffusion rate and solubility. The H₂ diffusion constant is a function of loading pressure; solubility increases nearly linearly with loading pressure up to 28,000 psi; and the mechanical strength of the fiber is not affected by high pressure loading. The fiber photosensitivity increased with hydrogen content to yield UV-induced index changes >10⁻².

© 1999 Optical Society of America