# Transmission characteristics of optical nanofibers in metastable xenon

## TL;DR

This paper investigates how optical nanofibers perform in a xenon plasma environment, revealing stable transmission over time and a plasma-dependent modulation effect, which could impact nanofiber applications in plasma conditions.

## Contribution

It presents the first detailed study of optical nanofiber transmission in xenon plasma, highlighting stability and modulation effects distinct from rubidium-based experiments.

## Key findings

- No significant transmission degradation over time in xenon plasma.
- Transmission modulation depends on plasma conditions.
- Contrast with rubidium vapor experiments showing degradation.

## Abstract

We study the transmission characteristics of sub-wavelength diameter silica optical nanofibers (ONF's) surrounded with a xenon plasma produced by a low-pressure inductive RF discharge. In contrast to related experiments using rubidium vapor, we find essentially no degradation of optical transmission through the ONF's as a function of time. We also observe a pronounced ONF transmission modulation effect that depends on the conditions of the xenon plasma.