UV laser-induced current in germanosilicate fibres with built in electrodes

The nature of photocurrents is studied in germanosilicate single-mode fibre s with built in electrodes. It is shown that irradiation by excimer KrF las er pulses at electric field strengths up to 1.6 MV cm(-1) causes a charge f ormation and transfer in the core of the fibre and the injection of photoel ectrons from metal electrodes to the fibre cladding. Both effects facilitat e the flow of electric current through the sample. The dependences of the p hotocurrent on the electric field strength, the energy density in the laser pulse, the fibre temperature, and the impurity hydrogen in the fibre core are obtained.