Accelerated aging of phosphorus-doped optical fibers

A method for passivation of an optical fiber, comprising:

• applying a first passivation step to the optical fiber by treating the optical fiber in a first heated and pressurized environment containing deuterium for a first period of time;
• applying an operation step to the optical fiber by operating the optical fiber in an atmosphere comprising hydrogen during an operation time, the first passivation step and the operation step resulting in a first loss-time curve;
• wherein when the first loss-time curve is compared to a second loss-time curve that is derived from a second passivation step, the second passivation step comprising treating the optical fiber in a second heated and pressurized environment containing deuterium for a second period of time;
• wherein the first passivation step is performed at a higher temperature than the second passivation step;
• temperature in the range of 65 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius;
• wherein the second passivation step is performed at a temperature less than 65 degrees Celsius;
• and
• wherein the second passivation step is followed by performing the operation step in the atmosphere comprising hydrogen, such that:
• a loss associated with the first loss-time curve during the first passivation step is greater than a loss associated with the second loss-time curve during the second passivation step;
• the loss associated with the first loss-time curve exceeds the loss associated with the second loss-time curve during a first part of the operation step;
• and
• the loss associated with the first loss-time curve is less than the loss associated with the second loss-time curve during a second part of the operation step in the atmosphere comprising hydrogen.