Hollow-core optical fibers for ultraviolet instrumentation (Conference Presentation)

Optical fibers are widely used in ground-based astrophysics, especially in the visible and near-infrared regimes. The use of fibers in other spectral regimes (such as the ultraviolet) and in the space environment has been limited due to the high absorption of most glasses in the UV and the radiation-induced degradation of glasses, respectively. Recently, we have demonstrated hollow-core optical fibers that transmit wavelengths as short as approximately 140 nm. Because oxygen and water vapor strongly absorb light with wavelengths shorter than 180 nm, we performed our transmission measurements in a chamber filled with high purity nitrogen. The fibers we measured show high transmission and low bend-induced losses in the 140 - 250 nm regime. Most recently, we have developed a vacuum system, capable of transmission measurements across the full FUV range (100 - 200 nm). Here, we present fiber transmission measurements in the 115 - 250 nm range and introduce some instrument concepts that are made possible by these FUV fibers.