Hydroxyl ion absorption is the absorption in optical fibers of electromagnetic radiation, including the near-infrared, due to the presence of trapped hydroxyl ions remaining from water as a contaminant. The hydroxyl (OH−) ion can penetrate glass during or after product fabrication, resulting in significant attenuation of discrete optical wavelengths, e.g., centred at 1.383 μm, used for communications via optical fibres.
See also Electromagnetic absorption by water
References
This article incorporates public domain material from Federal Standard 1037C. General Services Administration. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022.