Harsh-Environment Fiber Optics for Aerospace
Jul 31, 2018 — In its most basic form, bare optical fiber consists of a silica core and a cladding whose indices of refraction vary slightly. However, bare fiber is not very useful beyond a laboratory setting because its performance is highly susceptible to its environment. An outer coating is usually added to provide extra flexibility and mild protection for even the most simple of applications. A variety of factors, such as temperature, vibration, outgassing, and debris, can cause fiber communication...