ALL-OPTICAL, RAPID READOUT, FIBER-COUPLED THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSIMETER SYSTEM

摘要

A thermoluminescent radiation dosimeter system for the remote monitoring of radiation sources is disclosed. The system includes a radiation-sensitive thermoluminescent dosimeter (17) which utilizes a new, semiconductor-doped glass material disposed at a remote location for storing energy from ionizing radiation when exposed thereto and for releasing the stored energy in the form of thermoluminescence light at a first wavelength when stimulated by exposure to light energy at a predetermined stimulating second wavelength. The system further includes: an optical source (21) for providing stimulating light energy at the predetermined stimulating second wavelength; a thermoluminescence detector (33) for measuring thermoluminescent emissions; and an optical fiber (27) for passing the predetermined stimulating light energy from the optical source (21) to the thermoluminesce nt dosimeter (17) to stimulate the thermoluminescent dosimeter to produce thermoluminescence light from stored energy and for passing the thermoluminescence light to the thermoluminescence detector (33) to enable the thermoluminescence detector to measure any thermoluminescent emissions occurring when the thermoluminescent dosimeter is heated by the light energy at the predetermined stimulating second wavelength.