Detecting ionizing radiation with optical fibers down to biomedical doses

Year: 2013

Authors: Avino S., D’Avino V., Giorgini A., Pacelli R., Liuzzi R., Cella L., De Natale P., Gagliardi G.

Autors Affiliation: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO), via Campi Flegrei, 34 – Comprensorio A. Olivetti, Pozzuoli (Naples) 80078, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, via Tommaso De Amicis 95, 80131 Napoli, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Avanzate, Università di Napoli Federico II, via Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (INO), Largo E. Fermi 6, I-50125 Firenze, Italy

Abstract: We report on a passive ionizing radiation sensor based on a fiber-optic resonant cavity interrogated by a high resolution interferometric technique. After irradiation in clinical linear accelerators, we observe significant variations of the fiber thermo-optic coefficient. Exploiting this effect, we demonstrate an ultimate detection limit of 160 mGy with an interaction volume of only 6 x 10(-4) mm(3). Thanks to its reliability, compactness, and sensitivity at biomedical dose levels, our system lends itself to real applications in radiation therapy procedures as well as in radiation monitoring and protection in medicine, aerospace, and nuclear power plants. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

Journal/Review: APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS

Volume: 103 (18)      Pages from: 184102  to: 184102

More Information: The authors acknowledge support by Italian Ministry for Education and Research (MIUR) with the project FIRB RBFR10Q0PT_001 \”DROPS.\” The authors acknowledge Gianluca Notariale and Andrea Finizio for technical support and Giuseppe Palma for helpful discussions.
KeyWords: Detection limits; Dose levels; High resolution; Interferometric techniques; Radiation monitoring; Real applications; Thermo-optic coefficients, Interferometry; Ionizing radiation; Nuclear power plants; Nuclear reactors; Optical fibers, Radiation shielding
DOI: 10.1063/1.4826934

Citations: 17
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