Radiation induced absorption of hydrogen-loaded pure silica optical fibers with carbon coating for ITER diagnostics

•Radiation hardness of pure silica core optical fibers for ITER diagnostic systems was investigated.•Hydrogen-loaded fibers are compared with non-treated fibers.•Loaded fibers demonstrate significantly higher radiation hardness, after a year of storage.•Radiation induced absorption depends on the dose-rate and irradiation regime.•Hydrogen-loaded fibers can be recommended for the ITER diagnostics. We present results of gamma irradiation tests of 200 μm pure silica core optical fibers with a low and high-OH concentration, with and without hydrogen loading. All the fibers were manufactured by a candidate supplier of the fiber bundles for optical plasma diagnostics in ITER. The hydrogen-loaded fibers were stored for a one year before the irradiation start. The fibers were exposed at two Co-60 gamma facilities using dose-rates of 15 and 194 mGy/s up to 15 and 70 kGy absorbed doses, respectively. The optical transmission losses of the fibers were measured in-situ in the spectral range of 450–900 nm. The results are interpreted on the basis of available data on radiation defects in silica core fibers. It is demonstrated that hydrogen loading provides a radiation hardness improvement, which allows to satisfy the ITER requirements.