Infrared fluorescence ‘‘decay-time’’ temperature sensor

Abstract

The principle of the change in the ‘‘decay time’’ of the fluorescence of a small sample of neodymium in a glass matrix, excited by infrared radiation from a high-power light emitting diode has been used in the construction of a fiber-optic temperature sensor. Such a device is an inexpensive transducer and has demonstrated a fiber-optic sensor not requiring referencing to the intensity of the exciting radiation.