Low-dispersion optical fiber highly transparent in the UV spectral range

The National Ignition Facility performs fusion experiments using ultraviolet (351 nm) light. High-bandwidth, low-attenuation optical fibers are required to transport subnanosecond, UV laser diagnostic signals from the target chamber area to recording instruments located in adjacent rooms, with some fiber runs approximately 65 m in length. Special optical fibers are developed and fabricated to perform this task, since no existing commercially available fibers possess all of the required characteristics. These large-core (435 µm) fibers have optical dispersions less than 0.9 psec/m and attenuations less than 150 dB/km at 351 nm.