Vacuum seals must follow regulations based on helium leakage, outgassing, materials used, and bake-out temperature. In addition to these standards, the optical fiber regulations include compatibility with fiber connectors and low insertion loss/high return loss.

The benefits of choosing a fiber feedthrough over a copper wire feedthrough include bandwidth, security, and electrical insulation. A fiber optic feedthrough can carry significantly more data than a copper wire feedthrough at a lower weight and longer distance. It is also much more difficult to tap into the data from an optical fiber because they do not radiate signals like copper wires and it is easier to detect since the cables leak light. Finally, an optical fiber feedthrough doesn’t conduct electricity, so they can be used in the aerospace and automobile industries without fear of conducting electricity near fuel. Plus, as copper prices increase and optical fiber prices decrease, a fiber optic feedthrough could prove to be less expensive than a copper wire feedthrough in the long run!