Fiber-optic-coupled, laser heated thermoluminescence dosimeter for remote radiation sensing

Abstract

We describe an optically transparent, laser heated, thermoluminescent glass dosimeter that is used for fiber-optic-coupled remote radiation monitoring. The glass consists of ZnS nanocrystallites embedded in a Vycor glass host, doped with Cu1+ and Nd3+ ions. An 807 nm, 1 W GaAlAs laser is used to rapidly heat microscopic regions, surrounding the Nd3+ ions, in the composite glass to stimulate blue-green thermoluminescence from metastable traps populated by exposure to ultraviolet or 60Co γ radiation.