Title :
Ionizing radiation detector using multimode optical fibers
Author :
Suter, J.J. ; Poret, J.C. ; Rosen, M. ; Rifkind, J.M.
Author_Institution :
Appl. Phys. Lab., Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD, USA
Abstract :
An optical ionizing radiation detector, based on the attenuation of 850-nm light in 50/125-μm multimode fibers, is described. The detector is especially well suited for application on spacecraft because of its small design. The detection element consists of a section of coiled fibers that has been designed to strip higher-order optical modes. Cylindrical radiation shields with atomic numbers ranging from Z=13 (aluminum) to Z=82 (lead) were placed around the ionizing radiation detector so that the effectiveness of the detector could be measured. By exposing the shields and the detector to 1.25-MeV cobalt-60 radiation, the mass attenuation coefficients of the shields were measured. The detector is based on the phenomenon that radiation creates optical color centers in glass fibers. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy performed on the 50/125-μm fibers showed the presence of germanium oxide and phosphorus-based color centers. The intensity of these centers is directly related to the accumulated gamma radiation
Keywords :
fibre optic sensors; paramagnetic resonance of colour centres; particle detectors; shielding; 1.25 MeV; 125 micron; 50 micron; 850 nm; ESR spectroscopy; GeO; P; light attenuation; mass attenuation coefficients; multimode optical fibers; optical color centers; optical ionizing radiation detector; radiation shields; Atom optics; Atomic measurements; Ionizing radiation; Optical attenuators; Optical design; Optical detectors; Optical fibers; Radiation detectors; Space vehicles; Strips;
Conference_Titel :
Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, 1992., Conference Record of the 1992 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Orlando, FL
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-0884-0
DOI :
10.1109/NSSMIC.1992.301141
