Radiation probe with flexible sleeve

摘要

A probe for fiber optic spectroscopy, having a radiation transparent window for the emission of radiation and an optical fiber that extends through the interior of a hollow housing, surrounds the fiber with a cushioning sleeve to provide an optical cable that preserves optical fiber connections and dampen vibration of the optical cable. The sleeve provides a structure around the optical fiber that is more compressible than the optical fiber and has a significantly greater mass than the optical fiber. Excess cable length may be provided along its path through the housing to impinge the cable against the interior walls of the housing and thereby dampen vibration by providing additional node points through contact of the sleeve with the housing wall. Helical twisting of the cable along its path through the housing further stabilizes the shape of the fiber optic cable within the housing and maintains a regular spacing of contact points with the housing. Regular spacing of node points consistently controls vibration dampening by contact between the housing wall and the cable.