STRENGTH AND FATIGUE MEASUREMENTS USING THE FIBERS WITH LASER-INDUCEDGLASS DEFECTS

As a result of optical damage the chain of cavities originate along th e core of the single-mode fiber. These defects are not influenced by t he atmospheric water. We suggest the optically damaged fibers to be a convenient object for the investigation of static fatigue of silica gl ass at room temperature and a very low level of moisture. Results on t he strength and fatigue for fibers with laser-induced glass defects ar e presented. The atmosphere inside the defects is evaluated to contain water with concentrations approximately equal to that in the fiber ma terial. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.