The Effects of Hydrostatic Pressure on Optical Fibers (Fiscal Year 1983 Report).

Abstract : This report stems from a project tasked to investigate experimentally the effects of deep-ocean hydrostatic pressure on (polymer-coated) optical fiber transmission. It was conxluded that optical fibers could be designed so that pressure equivalent to a 6-km (20,000-ft) ocean depth does not increase fiber losses. This conclusion was based on an axial compression model and experiments performed on polymercoated graded-indes fibers. Defects in the coating were identified as additional causes of loss increase. Defectively coated fibers exhibited very large excess loss in hydrostatic environments. This report summarizes work performed in FY 83. A pressure model and fiber and coating material experiments are described and conclusions and recommendations stated. Keywords: Fiber optic coatings; Buckling behavior; Transmission quality; Coating defects; and Undesea data links.