Photoinduced processes in Sn-doped silica fiber preforms

Effects induced by KrF ultraviolet excimer laser on Sn-doped silica fiber performs were analyzed by means of optical and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. Bond breaking in substitutional Sn sites was evidenced by the Sn–E′ EPR signal due to sp3 unpaired electrons in threefold coordinated Sn sites. Red photoluminescence excited at 633 nm, due to nonbridging-oxygen sites, was also observed after laser exposure. The intensity of this emission did not follow the Sn concentration profile, being observed at the core–cladding interface and in the core center. Birefringence data showed that these effects are accompanied by stress relief in the Sn-doped region. Different structural features of core and cladding were evidenced by micro-Raman measurements and related to the observed photosensitivity.