An Optical Fiber Sensor Based on La2O2S:Eu Scintillator for Detecting Ultraviolet Radiation in Real-Time

Yongji Yan; Xu Zhang; Haopeng Li; Yu Ma; Tianci Xie; Zhuang Qin; Shuangqiang Liu; Weimin Sun; Elfed Lewis

doi:10.3390/s18113754

Sensors (Nov 2018)

An Optical Fiber Sensor Based on La2O2S:Eu Scintillator for Detecting Ultraviolet Radiation in Real-Time

Yongji Yan,
Xu Zhang,
Haopeng Li,
Yu Ma,
Tianci Xie,
Zhuang Qin,
Shuangqiang Liu,
Weimin Sun,
Elfed Lewis

Affiliations

Yongji Yan: Key Lab of In-fiber Integrated Optics, Ministry Education of China, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
Xu Zhang: Key Lab of In-fiber Integrated Optics, Ministry Education of China, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
Haopeng Li: Key Lab of In-fiber Integrated Optics, Ministry Education of China, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
Yu Ma: Key Lab of In-fiber Integrated Optics, Ministry Education of China, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
Tianci Xie: Key Lab of In-fiber Integrated Optics, Ministry Education of China, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
Zhuang Qin: Key Lab of In-fiber Integrated Optics, Ministry Education of China, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
Shuangqiang Liu: Key Lab of In-fiber Integrated Optics, Ministry Education of China, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
Weimin Sun: Key Lab of In-fiber Integrated Optics, Ministry Education of China, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
Elfed Lewis: Optical Fiber Sensors Research Centre, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s18113754
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18, no. 11
p. 3754

Abstract

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A novel ultraviolet (UV) optical fiber sensor (UVOFS) based on the scintillating material La2O2S:Eu has been designed, tested, and its performance compared with other scintillating materials and other conventional UV detectors. The UVOFS is based on PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) optical fiber which includes a scintillating material. Scintillating materials provide a unique opportunity to measure UV light intensity even in the presence of strong electromagnetic interference. Five scintillating materials were compared in order to select the most appropriate one for the UVOFS. The characteristics of the sensor are reported, including a highly linear response to radiation intensity, reproducibility, temperature response, and response time (to pulsed light) based on emission from a UV source (UV fluorescence tube) centered on a wavelength of 308 nm. A direct comparison with the commercially available semiconductor-based UV sensor proves the UVOFS of this investigation shows superior performance in terms of accuracy, long-term reliability, response time and linearity.

Published in Sensors

ISSN: 1424-8220 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors

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